Psych
Album Review: Sudakistan – ‘Caballo Negro’
Photo by: Christian Apolo ‘Caballo Negro’ or Black Horse by Sudakistan is an album I was destined to hear. In the week leading up to Liverpool Psych Fest 2104, if El Lobo first came to me in the guise of ‘Dale Gas’, then ‘Rabia‘ literally injected me with Sudakistan’s rabid frenzy. My pack allegiance was immediately assured. Luke Reilly, …
Album, Review: Mammatus – Sparkling Waters
Since 2005 the Santa Cruz, California trio Mammatus have been churning out some seriously mind-melting psych and stoner rock. From the Holy Mountain-released Mammatus in 2006 and The Coast Explodes in 2007, to the Spiritual Pajamas-released Heady Mental in 2013, Nicholas Emmert, Chris Freels, and Aaron Emmert have explored everything from expansive, dreamy realms, to psych freakouts, and serious guitar shredding. While …
Say Psych: Album Review, Cardinal Fuzz ‘Stay Holy’ Compilation
Cardinal Fuzz is one of my favourite records labels bringing out a series of, for me, essential releases. This is evidenced by the fact that the label was involved in a quarter of the albums on our ‘Essential Psych’ list last year. This year also saw the label being invited to curate a stage at the …
Say Psych: Live, Cult of Dom Keller, Liverpool PsychFest, 26/09/15
Cult of Dom Keller has been a favourite of mine for some years now. Two cracking albums and a series of enthralling live performances mean that I try to see the band whenever I get the chance. So I was really pleased to hear that they were Cardinal Fuzz Sonic Attack stage, and they did …
Album Review: Fyrskeppet – ‘Sydostbrotten’
Who the fuck is Fyrskeppet I hear you cry… In this instance it is not so much a who, as a what. In the truly idiosyncratic style to which we have become addicted, Fyrskeppet – or Swedish for Lightship is the latest incarnation of Daniel Westerlund, aka The Goner, aka E Gone. That he returns in a …
Live Review: Boogarins, Reflektor Club, Liege 01.11.2015
I spoke briefly to Rapha, the bass player of Boogarins after the gig, only long enough to ask him to describe their music in a few words if possible. He replied “Free Jazz Pop Rock”. It’s as good a phrase as any, but I would be doing a poor job, and the band a disservice …
Album Review: Singapore Sling – ‘Psych Fuck’
‘Psych Fuck’ by Singapore Sling, buy it, love it, the end… Listen, feel, assimilate, emote, sensate… As a kid, I would have sat with the dictionary for hours, chasing “meanings”, following roots, finding nothing, repeatedly exposing words as empty vessels, crude, devoid approximations, blunt communicative tools, pregnant inadequacies… “I want my own stuff, my own rhythm, …
Psych Insight: Live, Carlton Melton, Liverpool PsychFest, 25/09/15
In ‘Out To Sea’ Carlton Melton have produced one of my favourite albums of the year so far. I think that it is their most complete work to date, being more focused than previous outings, yet without losing that looseness and improvisation that marks out their sound for me. It is an album that can …
Say Psych: Live, Hookworms, Liverpool PsychFest, 26.09.15
This was Hookworms third appearance at the Liverpool PsychFest, with the band’s rise up the bill over that time matching it increasing prominence and success elsewhere. Following last year’s excellent Hum album (which made the Psych Insight essential list last year), Hookworms have been on something of a hiatus, with most of the band members …
Say Psych, Live Review: Lumerians, Liverpool PsychFest, 26/09/15
Lumerians has been a Psych Insight favourite for some time. The bands most recent album Transmissions From Planet Telos Vol. 3 made our ‘Essential Psych Albums of 2014‘ list saying “This is one of those albums that takes you both without and within, leaving you covered with space dust and the imprints of the therapist’s couch: …