Browsing Tag

Psych Pop Rock

Take a psychonautic pop trip with Zachary James’ rock-licked single, Slide Away

Posted on 15 December 2022

Experimentalism notably wasn’t in short supply in Zachary James’ psychedelic pop-rock album, Intergalactic. The lead single, Slide Away, featuring the staunchly virtuosic guitar work of Frederick Poholek, is a passion-driven trip through the cosmos. Led by distortedly soaring guitar lines, scuzzy synths, and, of course, Zachary James vocals, which emanate a visceral sense of soul into the single, allowing you to imagine what gospel music will sound like 100 years from now. Even if that is a bit of a stretch, it is a million lightyears away from the original version, first put on the airwaves by Miley Cyrus.

The New York-residing Grammy Award-winning artist is best known for his work on Broadway, opera, TV, and film, but now he has set his sights on the airwaves, he will undoubtedly reign supreme on them.

Check out Slide Away with the rest of the spacey LP here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mantra is ‘Funny Like That’ in their crooning indie-rock track

Posted on 10 April 2021

Starting off with a cute solo acoustic guitar pattern before the rest of the band arrive with a slightly jazzy feel to this, the new single from alt-indie groove Mantra. It’s chilled, mellow, with a relaxed, off-beat feel, and a summery, ‘the-days-are-getting-longer’ kind of vibe.

There’s a touch of Beck or Mika to this, in that ‘the only rule is there are no rules’ sort of way of making music, a little of the Plain White Tees ‘college radio’ feel mixed with some Pink Floyd psychedelia, and overall there’s a sort of meandering kookiness that sets this aside from the run-of-the-mill guitar-bass-drums indie set-up; the vocals have that laconic laziness that seems to sit quite regularly with bands from the American South-East, and the whole thing sort of grooves and chills its way along letting you recline into its mix of effortless cool.

You can hear ‘Funny Like That’ on Spotify now.

Review by Alex Holmes

8udDha bl0od – 21Rc0ni1: Archetype-Smashing Alt Rock

Posted on 12 May 2020
https://soundcloud.com/william-orpen

Fans of Radiohead, The Beatles, and Nirvana are likely to categorically agree that up and coming Alt Rock artist 8udDha bl0od’s upcoming single 21Rc0ni1 is a stunningly enrapturing soundscape.

With elements of Art Rock and Psych Pop with nuances of the Seattle Sound lingering in the accordant tones, 8udDha bl0od’s latest single offers the archetype smashing genre-transcendence we’ve come to expect from them. But what we definitely didn’t expect was the quantity of candid emotion which poured in through the lyrics and vocals in equal amounts.

The quiescent vocals pull you in deeper to the point you’d be able to hear a pin drop in the production while the melodies soothe you with their organic catharsis.

You’ll need to wait a little longer to check out 21Rc0ni1 for yourselves. In the meantime, head on over to SoundCloud and delve into 8udDha bl0od’s eclectically diverse back catalogue.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

8udDha bl0od – HAppY 5AD: Pr!nce DjAng0 PURple fA!n of 3<35

Posted on 8 May 2020

8udDha bl0od is one of the most versatile artists we’ve encountered in 2020, with each new release they blow our minds a little more, and their recently released romantically nostalgic single “HAppY 5AD: Pr!nce DjAng0 PURple fA!n of 3<35” was no exception.

HAppY 5AD: Pr!nce DjAng0 PURple fA!n of 3<35 felt like an aural cuddle. Just why the blend of Progressive Synth Pop and 60s Psych was consoling I’m not all too sure, but the consciousness-devouring soundscape is extremely efficacious all the same. I have a feeling that any fans of ELO will definitely want to make HAppY 5AD: Pr!nce DjAng0 PURple fA!n of 3<35 a staple track on their playlists.

HAppY 5AD: Pr!nce DjAng0 PURple fA!n of 3<35 will be available for release along with the rest of the album from May 17th via SoundCloud. In the meantime, you can check out the artists myriad of dynamic releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

8udDha bl0od – R3D0: Sublimely Mellifluous 60s Psych Pop Rock

Posted on 19 April 2020
https://soundcloud.com/william-orpen/untitled-1252

If your playlists could use an injection of catharsis, look no further than the sublimely mellifluous single R3D0 from breaking Alternative artist 8udDha bl0od.

Fans of the Beatles and other 60s Psych Pop Rock pioneers will definitely appreciate the gently enticing rhythms which aid transcendental escapism while simultaneously leaving you enamoured by the artist’s ability to create such a transfixing soulful single.

It’s lyrically light, but perceptibly, R3D0 was stripped-back to the essential components to offer nothing but sheer psychedelic good vibes.

Not all of 8udDha bl0od’s tracks are as captivatingly serene as R3D0. But this just affirms that the Brighton-based artist has no trouble when it comes to orchestrating more traditional, accessible and radio-friendly tracks despite their inclination to explore slightly less archetypal sounds.

You can check out R3D0 which was released in February 2020 along with 8udDha bl0od’s tracks for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

8udDha bl0od – 1771: Psychedelically-Laced 60s-Inspired Pop Rock

Posted on 13 April 2020
https://soundcloud.com/william-orpen/1771i

1771 is just one of the recently released singles by Brighton-based Alt artist 8udDha bl0od. Arguably, the psychedelically-laced Pop Rock single is up there with the most cathartic we’ve heard from them yet.

The frill-free soundscape invites you to slip into a kaleidoscopically entrancing track which invokes 60s nostalgia. Above the light instrumental arrangement, the vocals easily and ethereally resonate above the gentle rhythms compelling you to sink deeper into the track and latch onto the lyrics to ingest the sentimental mindfulness.

What I will always appreciate about 8udDha bl0od is their ability to break free from tonal archetypes. They consistently surprise us with the seemingly endless number of ways their ingenuity can aurally manifest.  Fans of the Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Zombies and the Rolling Stone will find plenty to be enamoured by when they hit play on 1771.

You can check out 1771 for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Prince of Sweden – Cabaret: Sweet Hazy Mellifluous Indie Rock

Posted on 2 February 2020
https://soundcloud.com/user-801833827/cabaret

UK-based artist Prince of Sweden has released their most captivating single to date with “Cabaret”.

The utilisation of archaic elements in their truly timeless approach to songwriting makes it all too easy to warm to their charismatic quietly sonorous soundscapes. With Cabaret, they offered a sweet hazy mellifluous feat of Indie Rock with the perfect infusion of Psych Pop and a few borrowed tones from Big Band Swing Jazz.

Their ability to make you hang off each word as the melody gently exudes plenty of gentle rhythmic catharsis is sure to see Prince of Sweden go far in 2020. If you get the chance to see them live, take it.

You can check out Prince of Sweden’s latest single Cabaret via SoundCloud now.

Keep up to date with live dates & new releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Them Damn Dogs – Memories: Hazily Oceanic Psych Indie Pop

Posted on 29 January 2020
https://open.spotify.com/track/5FxEzTEQNUCUi1SRDiBkzF

Oceanic Psych Pop waves sweep across the hazy sun-kissed Indie jam “Memories”  which is the latest track to be released from up and coming artist Them Damn Dogs.

You’ll have a smorgasbord of nostalgia to feast upon as the high-vibe track unravels to the tune of punchy Jangle Pop guitar melodies and chorally sweet vocals. But that’s not to say that Memories was an assimilative track in the slightest. With curve-ball retro synth riffs and distorted guitar licks thrown into the mix, Them Damn Dogs were able to create a track which offered accessibility with a significant serving of authenticity.

If you could imagine what the Beach Boys would have sounded like if they incorporated a nuanced Punk bite into their music, you’ll get an idea of what’s on offer from Memories.

You can check out the latest track from Them Damn Dogs for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast