Browsing Tag

Psych Rock

Feel the love emanating from Jade Moede’s psychedelic synth-rock track, ‘Shine Your Love’.

Posted on 3 April 2021
Jade Moede

We first met US singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jade Moede through their raucous feat of retro rock, ‘No More lies’, their upcoming release, ‘Shine Your Love’, exhibits a very different facet of their ability to manipulate emotion through music.

While most love songs work on the assumption that the listener is already affably sated, Jade Moede went in a completely different direction. His psychedelic synth-rock track reminds the listener of the infinite nature of love – you’ll find plenty of it within the unapologetically eccentric production that’s an extension of what the Beatles had to offer. But there’s something utterly stunning about Jade Moede’s determination to make sure that love emanates through the track orchestrated for his drum teachers, Jack Brand and Stuart Miller who have both since passed. Something tells me they’d be just as proud of his MO as his technical ability.

You can check out Jade Moede via Spotify and by heading over to his official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Troubled Traveller has released his psychedelically despondent art-pop debut, ‘the lucky ones’

Posted on 1 April 2021

Canadian singer-songwriter Troubled Traveller has made their debut with the all too resonant single ‘the lucky ones’, created in collaboration with Floridian space pop producer Brian Squillace and vocalist Amber Nicole.

With shimmering guitars cascading down melodies first heard in 70s psych-rock finding synergy with deadpan vocals, everything in the lucky ones pieces together like a perfect jigsaw that you never want to tear apart.

Troubled Traveller succeeded in lacing the lucky ones with the same despondence that we’ve all been in bed with recently without making it a self-flagellating melancholy fest. He’s set the bar with his seriously strong debut, but we’re more than assured he’ll exceed expectation with their upcoming releases. Don’t be surprised if Troubled Traveller ambles onto your radar when you hit play on their debut.

the lucky ones is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ebben Phlö have released their bitter-sweet psychedelic stormer ‘Loose Ends’

Posted on 27 March 2021
Loose Ends by Ebben Phlö

Cork-based duo, Ebben Phlö have released their fuzzed-up storming feat of indie psych rock, ‘Loose Ends’;  if you could imagine what it would sound like if a little more kaleidoscopic colour was thrown into the Strokes’ tonal palette, you’ll get an idea of the intensity delivered.

It isn’t every day that you experience such a visceral mentally-modifying single which oozes mainstream appeal, but Ebben Phlö’s hooks which lure you into the scuzzy synth-laden soundscape are as sharp as you’re going to hear on the airwaves today.

If artists garnered hype on their creativity alone, Ebben Phlö would be sitting pretty right next to the likes of Black Keys and Muse right now.

Loose Ends is now available to stream via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mantisgrove want to scare us in the ‘Ghost House’

Posted on 22 March 2021

The work of musician Seth Leininger, from Laramie, Wyoming, ‘Ghost House II’ – from Mantisgrove’s debut album ‘Our World’, is a dream of a track, a mixture of synthpop and mellow, full-band, beauty; chiming guitars, descending bell-like synths, and ethereal, soft vocals. Reminiscent at times of that gentle wave of British indie that included the Inspiral Carpets, the Chameleons, Ride, and the Stone Roses (think ‘She’s a Waterfall’ or ‘I Wanna Be Adored’), ‘Ghost House II’ spirals and twists around a central repeating guitar motif, mixing that indie vibe with psychedelia, surf rock, and chillwave to produce something alluring and fascinating in its winsomeness.

The follow-up to Mantisgrove’s well-received debut EP ‘Noon Blue’, you can check out the delicious ‘Ghost House II’, and the rest of ‘Our World’, on Spotify, and follow Mantsigrove on Facebook and via their website.

Review by Alex Holmes

Mark Millar sings the psych-tinged blues in the standout single from their sophomore album ‘Killer’

Posted on 7 March 2021

After honing-in on their craft in popular UK touring bands, Mark Millar finally made their debut in 2019 with the solo album ‘On the Journey’. Inspiration has been flowing ever since, leading to the release of their sophomore album, ‘Take Me to the River’, featuring the stunning spin on psych-tinged blues rock ‘Killer’.

Lofty blues guitars perfectly complement the 70s style rock vocals which bring a Jim Morrison kick to the soundscape which allows Mark Millar to humbly show his lifetime of experience perfecting blues bends.

You can practically hear vultures circling above the deserty full-bodied semi-orchestral instrumental arrangement which allows classical strings to pull off the intricate soulful progressions which will serenade you as much as the vocals.

You can check out Mark Millar’s album Take Me to the River via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Leafs spliced classic rock with 90s Britpop in their latest single ‘Mr. Coffey’

Posted on 6 March 2021

Classic rock conservationists, The Leafs, dug up the roots of 70s rock and spliced them with elements of 90s Britpop in their latest single ‘Mr. Coffey’. With driving guitar tones as vintage as Keith Richards himself, the preservation of classic rock is safe in the deft hands of The Leafs – and so is the future of alt-rock.

With vocals which are sweet to the point of seduction, a psychedelic kick to the synthy euphoria-spilling instrumentals and tenderly romantic lyrics, you can expect your soul to be filled and your rhythmic pulses to be arrested while this earworm crawls in.

The Berlin-based artist may have only made their debut in 2020, but you’d be hard-pressed to find another 2021 release containing more commercial potential than Mr. Coffey. It’s an obsession-worthy track.

Mr. Coffey is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Walking Trees have made their psychedelically despondent alt-rock debut with ‘SOUTHSIDE aLIVE!’

Posted on 5 March 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElQG9ES4f2Q

Racking up over 10k streams and garnering major airplay with a debut release is the dream for many aspiring artists, The Walking Trees first single ‘SOUTHSIDE aLIVE! is equally as ethereal.

By channelling post-punk despondency vocally, infusing Depeche Mode-style atmosphere and exuding frenetic Black Keys-style blues through the guitars and keys, SOUTHSIDE aLIVE! drips with Marlon Brando-level cool.

The Frank Zappa-Esque. Spoken word verse was so much more than a nod to an icon, the serpentine canter of the poetry is utterly transfixing as it affirms the amount of artistic intellect behind The Walking Trees sound which carries reminiscence from everyone from Gorillaz to the Cramps.

The Walking Trees is everything a modern alt-rock act should be. From their image to their experimental intrigue, everything points in the direction of success for The Walking Trees. With their forthcoming single due for release in late February, they are well-worth having on your radar.

You can check out the official music video which premiered on January 23rd via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

 

The John Michie Collective – Nothing to Die For: Existentially Relatable Indie Psych Rock

Posted on 2 March 2021

There was no forgetting multi-instrumentalist, The John Michie Collective, after hearing their 2020 release, I’ll Write Your Constellation’. After the release of their latest single, Nothing to Die For, their psychotropic experimentalism is permanently etched in our freshly altered minds.

With a touch of 70s rock in the spacey dreamy alt-indie single, you get the same feeling of ascendence as when you hit play on Lou Reed’s most psychedelically sweet tracks.

The romantic-in-spite-of-nihilism touch to the vocals and lyricism acts like an emotional sucker punch. For the aurally sensitive out there, don’t be surprised if Nothing to Die For has a bruising impact. It perfectly captures the collective sense of futility which breathes throughout our locked-down society and illustrates that your outlook can be as sweet as the tones in this enrapturing relatable release.

Nothing to Die For is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Moon Rabbit Retreat have released their psychedelically interstellar single ‘Sine Language’

Posted on 27 February 2021

Mixing alt-rock, prog, electronica, jazz fusion, and elements of funk, is never an easy task, but New Jersey experimentalists Moon Rabbit Retreat do just that with their new single ‘Sine Language’.

There’s something for everyone here; seventies TV incidental music, soaring meandering Rick Wakeman-esque keyboard excursions, Pink Floyd-like multi-layered catchy choruses, Neil Peart drum explosions, and some epic synth and guitar sounds, across the nearly seven-minutes of this, the lead single from their new EP ‘Habitat’ (available from the band’s website or from Bandcamp). It’s excellent, with ascending interwoven parts which feel at once familiar and encompassing and never exclusionary, some epic musicianship, and a pretty fitting play on words for a track title, too. It doesn’t come much better than that.

Check out ‘Sine Language’ – and download the album – from Moon Rabbit Retreat’s website; follow the band on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

 

ZPEXTRE has delivered the antidote to vapid party pop-rock anthems with ‘Hypnotized’.

Posted on 28 January 2021

If you feel like you’ve heard enough vapid party pop-rock ‘anthems’ to last a lifetime, delve into ZPEXTRE’s mindfully uplifting single ‘Hypnotized’ and embrace the kaleidoscopically colourful transcendent tones.

With Beach Boys-style harmonies, stylistic funky nods to the b 52s, the gritty edge of Fidlar and all of the experimentalism of the Legendary Pink Dots, the Californian artist succeeded in creating a high-vibe hit which doesn’t just scratch at the surface with mindlessly hedonistic lyrics.

ZPEXTRE is to alt-rock what Duncan Trussell is to podcasts. If you’ve never had your own Burning Man-style experience, Hypnotized may just leave you with fresh incentive to disconnect from artificial reality and reconnect in a way which doesn’t leave your synapses misfiring.

You can’t help but turn a smile when you experience Hypnotized unravelling. As serotonin is hard to find these days, you should probably make room for ZPEXTRE on your radar, sooner rather than later.

Hypnotized is now available to stream on Spotify.

You can also check out ZPEXTRE via SoundCloud, YouTube, Bandcamp and Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast