Browsing Tag

Psych Rock

Melt into the Experimental Funk in Benzo Fabulous’ Alt Pop single “Jonathan in Jerusalem”

Posted on 25 August 2020

For some artists, experimentalism comes at the cost of accessibility, yet up and coming Alt-Pop artist Benzo Fabulous found the perfect balance in their Lo-Fi Garage Pop single “Jonathan in Jerusalem”.

Discernibly, Benzo Fabulous allows their creativity to lead the way when constructing their singles instead of their desire to appeal to the masses with a plastic and uniform sound. As a result, Jonathan in Jerusalem is laden with Psychedelic Funk and has plenty of Avant-Garde aural mayhem to throw your way.

The Brighton-based artist is definitely one to watch if you enjoy melting into off the cuff and endearingly eccentric tracks.

You can listen to Jonathan in Jerusalem for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

8udDha bl0od – Ophiuchus: Serafin: Transfixingly Avant-Garde Progressive Alt Rock

Posted on 28 July 2020
https://soundcloud.com/william-orpen/ophiuchus-serafin/s-oatUmsMFUld

Ophiuchus: Serafin is the latest single to be released from the immeasurably ingenious aural alchemist 8udDha bl0od. If any artist could be described as the modern-day equivalent to The Residents, it’s 8udDha bl0od

The Brighton-based artist may constantly switch up their sound with their new releases, but you can usually rely on a transfixing level of avant-garde accessible chaos. The accordantly rhythmic disarray in Ophiuchus: Serafin certainly didn’t disappoint.

Within Ophiuchus: Serafin, you’ll find nuances of Psych Rock, Surf Rock, No Wave and plenty more. The ten-minute extended track may make some dramatic tonal shifts and throw some discord your way, but each progression is as indulgent as the last.

If there’s an artist we’re grateful to have discovered this year, it’s 8udDha bl0od with their infinitely wild imagination when it comes to orchestrating soundscapes.

You can check out Ophiuchus: Serafin which was released on July 20th for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Immerse yourselves in Enlightenment Saloon’s latest ambient synthwave single “Driving on Instinct”

Posted on 30 June 2020

Immerse yourselves in Enlightenment Saloon’s latest single “Driving on Instinct” and prepare for the nuancedly crafted catharsis.

Ambient Synthwave with absorbing guitar licks in a futuristically captivating soundscape was always going to be a potently transfixing combination. But the stylistic maturity in Driving on Instinct surpasses expectation and leads to transcendence.

Enlightenment Saloon may send you a few 80s postcards while Driving on Instinct progresses. Yet, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more authentic and captivating drive-home track if you turned on the radio.

After being introduced to the artist’s mesmerising approach to production, I will definitely be returning to their music for repeat doses of synth-led ambience. The blazing guitar solos are practically addictive.

You can check out Enlightenment Saloon’s new Synthwave soundscape for yourselves via Soundcloud

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Damien Darr has broken the Jangle Pop mould with their Psych-infused Indie Pop single “Supernatural”

Posted on 16 June 2020
https://soundcloud.com/damiendarr/supernatural

Alt singer-songwriter Damien Darr broke the monotonous Jangle Pop mould with their standout single “Supernatural” from their latest album “Paper Cuts”.

Supernatural is a blend of sticky-sweet Indie Pop along with a seriously nuanced injection of Psych Rock. The absorbingly intricate guitar licks demand you give this track plenty of repeat attention as they bravely explore the full tonal palette. From angular and cutting to kaleidoscopically transcendent, Supernatural offers it all.

There’s also plenty to be said for Damien Darr’s energetically entrancing vocals which will leave you endeared by their playful style before the first verse has run through.

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

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Artie Ziff – Drive: Astrally Infectious Alt Post Punk

Posted on 7 May 2020
tiny.cc/0h4xnz

If it’s been a while since you’ve hit play on a track from a new artist and felt that immediate euphoric sense of aural intoxication from ingesting undiluted ingenuity, hit play on Alt Rock artist Artie Ziff’s latest 2020 single “Drive”.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Joy Division, Sonic Youth, Eagles of Death Metal and King Crimson collaborated on a track, you’ll get a good idea of what Drive will throw your way. The progressive track may consistently evolve as it explores the full tonal spectrum, but with each new seamless transgression in sound, you’re left with the palpable excitement to hear what curveball Artie Ziff will throw at you next.

Drive is a sound which is all too easy to get obsessed by. The Glaswegian three-piece are undoubtedly ones to watch, get them on your radars.

You can check out Artie Ziff’s psychedelically infectious single Drive for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Follow Artie Ziff on Facebook to stay up to date with future releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Merivida – Smoke: Psychedelically Vitriolic Alt Rock

Posted on 30 April 2020
https://open.spotify.com/track/4izXJnGLnGHzmqvRWZS0Tv

Up and coming Alt Rock artist Merivida has made their debut with their genre-defying vitriolically explosive album “Leaked Transmissions from the Cosmos”.

While each track is a riotous convergence of Punk, Grunge, Psych, and Garage Rock, the best introduction to Merivida’s high-octane spacy sound is undoubtedly Smoke.

With the same rhythmically serpentine style as Velvet Revolver, Garage Punk vocals and the angst which practically drips from the frenzied instrumentals Smoke isn’t a track which you’ll forget in a hurry. Even with the harsh and grungy tones, Smoke still offers an anthemic feel, I can’t imagine how insanely energetic a live set from the Washington-based artist would be.

You can check out Smoke along for yourselves via Spotify. But we’d highly recommend listening to Leaked Transmissions from the Cosmos in full. It’s a rare perfectly curated release which allows each of Merivida’s hypnotically grungy tracks to become even more transfixing.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chrome – Stone the Preachers: Rebelliously Inspired Psych Rock

Posted on 26 April 2020
https://soundcloud.com/matt-f-613518236/stone-the-preachers

While usually, you’d need to delve into Punk or Metal to enjoy vitriolically anarchistic tracks, Psych Rock trailblazers Chrome orchestrated a lyrically angsty, rhythmically kaleidoscopic track with their latest release “Stone the Preachers”.

The lyrics may ooze adrenalizing rebellion, yet, the colourfully effect-laden instrumentals stay on the warmer side of the tonal palette and spill plenty of melodic catharsis. The production in Stone the Preachers is nothing but ingenious, the soundscape is practically euphoric, but if you pay close attention to the lyricism you’ll get to lock into the biting sentiment which the track was inspired by.

Whoever said mutiny couldn’t be served up alongside transcendental tones?

Fans of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Velvet Revolver and the Kills will undoubtedly want to check out this release for themselves.

You can check out Stone the Preachers for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

8udDha bl0od – 570n3D R0535: f00l5 g0lD; 5!l<3r R35Urr3c710n

Posted on 20 April 2020
https://soundcloud.com/william-orpen/570n3d-r0535

Reminiscences of the Stone Roses iconic sound may be perceptible in numerous of 8udDha bl0od’s tracks, but with 570n3D R0535: f00l5 g0lD; 5!l<3r R35Urr3c710n the Brighton-based artist made a fitting ode to the timeless classic Fools Gold.

420 vibes drip from the effortlessly melodic Psych Alt Rock track which will take you on a 9-minute journey through glitchy, intense, effects-laden inventive alchemy.

While 570n3D R0535: f00l5 g0lD; 5!l<3r R35Urr3c710n may be darker, harsher and more experimental than anything the Stone Roses have ever come up with, the ingenuity of the orchestration definitely wasn’t lost on us. The instrumental hooks are just as sharp, and the production ensures the track is equally as entrancing.

You can check out 570n3D R0535: f00l5 g0lD; 5!l<3r R35Urr3c710n for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

8udDha bl0od – F3n1x 23r0 fx 13:42; 83ck5 luckY l0n3lY h3Ar75 fAn clUb bAnD

Posted on 20 April 2020
https://soundcloud.com/william-orpen/f3n1xfx

By now, we know not to have any expectations when hitting play on Brighton-based artist 8udDha bl0od’s tracks, but F3n1x 23r0 fx 13:42; 83ck5 luckY l0n3lY h3Ar75 fAn clUb bAnD was still quite the aural curveball.

Not only does it serve up a smorgasbord of genres but it also acts as an aural TARDIS which will ricochet you as far back as the 60s with a pit stop in the 70s, and you’ll pick up a few angsty 90s Alt Rock postcards while you’re on your way.

From grooving smoky Blues Rock to New Wave Indie, it’s all thrown into this mesmeric melting pot of sound. If you could imagine what it would sound like if The Legendary Pink Dots and The Stone Roses collaborated, you’ll get a good idea what’s in store when you hit play on this all-consuming rhythmically magnetic epic 8-minute track.

You can check out 8udDha bl0od’s single F3n1x 23r0 fx 13:42; 83ck5 luckY l0n3lY h3Ar75 fAn clUb bAnD for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Super Love has brought the funk with their latest Alt Rock single “Herringbone”

Posted on 14 April 2020
Super Love

Super Love brought the Funk with their latest single “Herringbone”. We’ve heard the US-based duo’s experimentalism under many guises, but with Herringbone, Super Love cooked up their most psychedelically immersive Alt Rock track yet.

The sweet Psych Blues guitar licks around the deep bendy basslines create an absorbing soundscape to slip into while the Alt Pop effect-laden vocals add plenty of robotic soul into the mix. Herringbone may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Instead, it’s a strong cocktail of aural ingenuity with unrestrained playful imagination.

It’s not all too often we stumble across pretence-less Alt Rock, which is why when Super Love appeared on our single in 2019 with their debut single, there was no chance of forgetting them.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can experience Herringbone yourselves. In the meantime, you can check out Super Love’s earlier releases via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast