Tag Archives: psychedelic

Alt- Pop, Dream Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, New Music, Psych-Pop, psychedelic

The Elephant Room ‘Naive Green’

Dublin-based trio The Elephant Room released their debut album Body in 2014, followed by the EP ‘Blotch’ last summer. They have now released their new single ‘Naive Green’. This psychedelic tinged track is sun kissed lazy days bliss. With smooth laid-back vocals and soft bouncy percussion all wrapped in a breezy mellowness it’s an instant tranquilising shot of ecstasy. With diluted guitar lines paving the path to the dreamy wobbly promised land this track is that subtle gesture and nudge that takes you to your mind-numbing state of bliss. With simple hypnotising “do do do” lyrics and fluffy comfy swirling soundscapes it’s the most luscious melty track that calms, sedates and fills you with hazy summer joy. This track is well crafted as The Elephant Room lull and coo with sublime weaving instrumentation as the perfect backing. Slightly trippy and sweet and oh so smooth these guys are ones to keep an eye on.

Watch the video for ‘Naive Green’ below


Alt- Pop, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Pop, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Ali Horn

Ali Horn has released his new single ‘Bloom’ via Liverpool based The Label Recordings.  His second single after the release of ‘Days Like Today’ in February. The track which has already been played by Chris Hawkins and Tom Robinson on BBC 6 Music and by BBC Merseyside, is four minutes of hazy psychedelic bliss. With a wall of spiraling guitars and punchy drums embracing your brain with tranquilising bubbliness it’s a hallucinogenic inducing trip of ecstasy. The echo laid back vocals soothe and lull you into a mind-numbing stupor while the whirling flower floating soundscapes playfully weave their way between sharp warm guitar stings. It’s a dreamy utopian experience that just consumes you with every note. The blistering guitars are the only strong fragment to hold onto, so you don’t lose yourself completely in the mind dissolving track.

When asked about the track Ali explains: “It was the first track that I wrote away from Strange Collective in recent years that I actually thought was any good, first taking form in my basement bedroom come studio the original demo was 9 minutes long. This was then shortened for our live shows and then even more for this single version that we did last month in Parr Street Studios. I guess in essence it’s about loneliness, sitting around out of my head thinking about where all my friends and loved ones were, sending them love and good vibes and hoping they were doing the same”

Stream ‘Bloom’ below


Alt Rock, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic

Indie Buddie Introducing : Carnivals

Carnivals are a home-grown talent from South East London, Cal Green (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Joe Hannen (Guitar/Synth), George Brimble (Bass/Vox) and Harry Wood (Drums/Vox) came together in 2015 after musical party antics turned into dynamic jamming sessions and inspired song writing. The band have recently released their debut single ‘Leave It All Behind’. Immersed in hallucinogenic 60’s and 70’s retro-psych this track is a slick blistering blast of euphoria. With stinging strides on guitar and punchy drums creating a thrilling piercing wall of sound for the dizzying synths to rebound off it’s a wobbly mirage of bliss. The liquefying almost misty melody evaporates off the scorching humid instrumentation while Green’s vocals effortlessly coo with a laid back hazy tone. This track is both cool, dewy and sizzling hot all at once. It’s a smashing debut from the four piece. Keep an eye out for Carnivals.

Stream ‘Leave It All Behind’ below


Alt Rock, Hypnotic, Indie Psychedelic, New Music, psychedelic

The Limiñanas ‘Istanbul Is Sleepy’

French psych duo The Limiñanas have released their new single ‘Istanbul Is Sleepy’ through Because Music. Featuring Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) and produced at his Berlin studio, the single is taken from their ‘Istanbul Is Sleepy’ EP out 17th November. The Limiñanas are Marie (drums/vocals) and Lionel (guitar, bass, keyboards and vocals). Hailing from Perpignan, the duo straddles the boundary between psych, shoegaze, and yé-yé. ‘Istanbul Is Sleepy’ is a sixties flavoured psychedelic shimmy smothered in a dark concoction of thrilling paranoia. With shadowed hazy reverb laden hooks creeping behind effortlessly cool swagger filled vocals it’s a bewitching entrapment of the mind. Flickering percussion adds a danceable allurement which draws you into the dark depths of Newcombe’s eerie yet seductive vocals. Swirling keys add a feathery light swish to this muggy sweltering track. It’s a relentless pursuit of your senses subtly luring you further and further into the track’s abyss. Occasionally blasting shots of distortion into the mix it’s a thrilling captivating track from The Limiñanas. Indulge in it, consume its psychedelic dreamy haze until you are trapped in the blissful loop. This duo are refined, cool, timeless and quintessentially French.

The moody, sixties-inspired video to ‘Istanbul Is Sleepy’ was directed by Jean Luc Moly watch it below.


Alt Rock, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Rock, Synth Rock, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Serene

Psychedelic Rock trio Serene have released a video for their new single ‘Havana’ which is the third single from their new album ‘The Lonely Road’. From the trippy flicker and stabbing acoustic intro this track sends shivers up your spine. It’s a throbbing gritty fuzzed wallop of the psychedelic rock this trio do so well. Blistering guitars fire through the track with red hot intensity. An infectious throbbing bassline grooves with a luring smoulder and punchy drums bruise deep while flashing wobbly synth soundscapes quiver and dazzle with bright kaleidoscopic scintillation. It’s an epileptic fit of psychedelic bliss. Raw edgy and razor sharp in all the right places Serene build the track slowly and meticulously right up to the dizzying hallucinogenic crescendo. Smooth swagger soaked vocals strut and prance around the beaming instrumentation with intensified emotion. Underneath all this acute fury there is a velvety smoothness and dreamy haze floating about. It’s tranquilizing and sweetly paralyzing to the harsh instrumental battering. It’s a mighty absolutely brilliant track from Serene. They are one of my favourite new bands at the moment and each track they release gets better and better. An exciting band to keep an eye out for. So good.

Watch the video for ‘Havana’ below


Alt Rock

Delphina Kings ‘Like You’

Manchester-based alternative trio Delphina Kings will release their new single ‘Like You’ this Friday. This slinky, steamy psychedelic smothered track coils and curves with sinister sensual tones between sharp guitars and crashing drums. The verses creep in with eerie spine chilling mystery and crooning vocals. Warped and twisted in a wobbly 60’s psychedelic mirage the track seeps out sensual sultry delusions. With swirling trippy soundscapes that slip through your fingers like quicksilver it’s a hallucinogenic mind-bending prism. Delphina Kings add a rough sharp belt of rock with harsher guitar strides and punchy drums for the thrilling chorus adding a mosh quality to the melty liquefying soundscapes.

Follow Delphina Kings on their socials to listen to the track as soon as it’s released here

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/delphinakings/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/delphinakings

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/delphinakings

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/52g02VODwHXGGJw7eV03Z8

 


Album Review, Alt Rock, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Singer/Songwriter

Kev Howell ‘Haunting Ambition’ Album

Glasgow based singer-songwriter Kev Howell has recently released his debut album, ‘Haunting Ambition’. After beginning writing original material back in 2014 with an old 8-track machine, some Cubase software, and a lot of ambition and talent, Howell has come a long way. Over the past 3 years, he has grown a solid and dedicated fanbase and gained support slots for the likes of Ben Ottewell and Bill Ryder-Jones. Inspired by the likes of The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, ‘Haunting Ambition’ boasts nine alternative rock tracks, driven by melodic guitar chords and a haunting and distinctive vocal line.

‘Haunting Ambition’ is a swirling dark concoction of alternative soft rock churning and coiling in a sixties psychedelic dissolving fermentation. Smooth and crooney ‘Distance’ sets the mood of the album. The underlying groovy hints present itself through the bouncy rhythm while spooky spine chilling soundscapes wisp around haunting vocals. The smooth melody is delicate,soft and almost fragile while sharp guitars sting with a stabbing shrill creating a goosebump inducing thrilling listen. The shadowy narcotically hazy ‘Kamikaze’ follows. Vaporous and smouldering this sultry track exudes eerie tantalising mystery wrapped in a psychedelic rock mirage. There is definitely a Beatles-eque vibe in the song maybe it’s something about Howell’s soothing McCartney-like smooth vocals or the melty melody smothered in dark creeping sixties psychedelia. Each track flows fluidly into the next bringing you further into Howell’s cloudy dream state. ‘Ode to an Angel’ lightens the mood and tone of the album. Gentle, sweet and delicate with soft accompaniment it’s heavenly and calm. Warm guitar twangs twinkle in and out of the lush emotional vocal melody while glistening soundscapes add a heartfelt sprinkle of affection. It’s an elegant mood shifter. Each track is well layered yet arranged meticulously in such a way so each note, each pluck and strum makes its own impact and striking imprint on your soul. With this album when it’s swoony and dreamy it’s divine but Howell knows exactly when to break that up and add a wobbly mirage of sharp guitar stings. Each song tells an absorbing story which pulls you right into the depths of the track creating a wholly engulfing experience. ‘Nightbird’ brings a shimmy dance quality with an impressive array of instrumentation from banjo twangs to electric and acoustic guitar intertwined with electronic soundscapes. It’s infectiously boppy and very catchy. ‘Grave Lament’ is just simply beautiful and mesmerising. Howell gives you just under a minute and a half of this blissfully sweet relaxing track. Warm guitar takes you to a dreamy island paradise while a gentle snapping beat soothes your mind. It’s mind melting soul fulfilling and oh so good. With velvety vocals caressing a creamy melody it’s like he takes away all your worries and for a brief moment you are in Utopia. ‘Snipers Blues’ closes the album off with a gritty punch of blues rock. Dirty riffs drive the track while kinetic drums bounce and pound with ferocious energy. It’s effortlessly cool, swagger driven and ballsy while also holding an air of breezy laid back attitude. Sultry and eerie with sharp guitar wails it’s a dramatic memorable end to the album.

Kev Howell’s ‘Haunting Ambition’ album blends the brawny fiery punch of rock with sublime smoky poetry and sensual steamy psychedelia, showcasing his refined and proficient musicianship. It’s an album you can put on and will listen to all the way through finding new intricate details each time. He leaves space for thought and contemplation while still layering and weaving fine textures and sublime melodies. An impressive debut.

Watch the video for ‘Kamikaze’ below

 


Alt Rock, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Buddie Introducing, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Rock, Trance

Indie Buddie Introducing : Cloakroom Q.

Alternative rock band Cloakroom Q have released their debut two singles ‘Don’t Come Home’ and ‘Wankman2000’. Hailing from Newry, Daniel Havern (Drumer), Conall Coulter (Guitarist), Dan Monaghan (Bassist), Ryan Elmore (Vocals) and Sean Hickey (Synth) formed after two of the members (Conall and Sean) saw LCD Soundsystem during their live set at Electric Picnic 2016. This influenced them to start a band which had many musical similarities to LCD. Of course, with the advent of Cloakroom Q they followed less of these musical influences as the sound developed with the additions of Dan, Ryan and Danny. Influences of the band “Slint” are present with both tracks due to the spoken word vocals featured. However, the influence of LCD soundsystem is still ever present with these tracks due to the synth arrangements.

‘Don’t Come Home’ is an intense spine chilling ominously dark trip. Twinkling creepy sinister synths create an almost horror movie like start. The steady pulsing beat creates a menacing foundation for the track while ghoulish haunting falsetto “ooh”, between anguished shaky vocals. It’s chilling and obscure smothered in simplicity as the feathery light melody on synths glisten, interweaving playfully and eerily against the harsh striking emotional lyrics. The track builds in intensity as drums pound and guitars crash becoming heavy and mosh ready, ending with the piercing shrill of distortion. This track is weighty both instrumentally and emotionally. It’s agonising, harrowing and brilliantly crafted. These guys build to a fury bursting crescendo while still holding back on some of the emotion. Its like a controlled explosion that is held taut so the intensity and torment remains throughout the fierce blow up.

‘Wankman2000’ is a pulsing psychedelic trip swirling in hypnotic soundscapes and flickering synths. A strong beat once again acts as a constant as the track wobbles and warps around it. Becoming heavy the track builds into fury infested headbang rock smothered in psychedelic delusions. Spoken vocals become aggressive and shouty. Dripping in acid-like illusions with dark eerie tones and pounding rhythms it’s another dense staggering track from this five piece.

Cloakroom Q have presented two chilling throbbing heavy hitting tracks with arrangements that take you on a roller-coaster ride of lurching and rolling with raw anguish and intensity. These two tracks whack these guys into the ones to watch list.

Stream singles ‘Don’t Come Home’ and ‘Wankman2000’ below

 

 


EP Review, Hypnotic, Indie Psychedelic, New Music, Psych-Pop, psychedelic, Trance

Crome Yellow ‘Yellow Road’ EP

Waterford’s alternative rock/ synth pop band Crome Yellow have released their debut EP ‘Yellow Road’. The band have created a 5 track collection of liquefying mind melting tunes that are just sublime.
The sweet dazed ‘My Chateau’ kicks off the EP doused in narcotic psychedelia and ridiculously chill tones. Sharp guitar adds a wobbly sting to the hazy mirage while gentle vocals soothe you into a calming state of hypnosis. ‘Cordial People’ takes you on a funky tinged journey with spacey hints and darker tones of dreamy delusions. Whispered almost eerie vocals and the zesty guitar jingle create a dull shot of acid-fried absurdity. ‘You Never Ask Me If I’m Happy’ is a peppy clap along friendly track with a western desert feel. Psychedelic guitar adds scorching heat to the optical illusion. A sway like melody and peppy beat adds a shimmy wavy danceable element to the EP. ‘Grey Cords’ once again lulls you into Crome Yellow’s tranquillised state of opiate ecstasy. With lush backing vocals and trippy synths they take you further and further down the rabbit hole. ‘Jean’ brings us to the end of our journey with Crome Yellow with sonic pulses twinkling guitars and warm toned keys. It’s a swoony slow-moving track that is mind numbing and dreamy with space-age like psychedelia.
Crome Yellow’s ‘Yellow Road’ EP is a sophisticated deeply dreamy collection of tracks that drown you in a synth pop trippy illusion filled pool of euphoria. Its rich in intricately layered synths blended with hypnotic chimes and spacey psychedelia. Funky guitar elements and pop melodies create lush texture and deliver the bands distinctive sound. A strong debut EP from the four piece. Its a relaxing mind dissolving treasure.

Watch the video for ‘Jean’ below


Alt Rock, Hypnotic, Indie Blues, Indie Psychedelic, New Music, psychedelic, Trance

Glassmaps ‘Summer Rain’

Glassmaps is the solo project of Joel Stein, lead guitarist in the much-loved Howling Bells. After four successful albums with the band, the UK-based Australian has brought his worldwide touring and recording experience to this exciting new endeavour. ‘Summer Rain’ is the first release from Glassmaps’ upcoming ‘Strangely Addicted’ LP which is to be released on Lost In The Manor Records later in the year. The LP was honed in Las Vegas, at the home studio of The Killers’ bassist Mark Stoermer, where Joel was staying while recording with Howling Bells.
‘Summer Rain’ is a swoony crooning blues tinted track brewed and entangled in hazy psychedelia. Driven by a blues rock stomp this track exudes and bleeds lazy laid back swagger. Dragging blurry delusions with sunny psych harmonics it’s a weary search for a resolution for ones own problems. The sharp twanging guitar freshens up the lethargic dreamy staggering soundscape. Stein’s raspy swooping vocals add a drowsy narcotic effect to this hypnotic sweltering track. Stuffy and muggy this track evokes images of humid days it almost suffocates you in its delusional trip. Catchy and hypnotic ‘Summer Rain’ is almost soothing and sedating while holding an air of seduction and confusion.

Stream ‘Summer Rain’ below