B&E Podcast Episode 43: Thoughts
We talk to Angel Leiser of the Philadelphia-based funk rock outfit.
Read moreTag Archives: Psych
REVIEW: Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at Pabst Theater
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong continue to shatter expectations as they master their craft.
Read moreAUDIO: Jake Marin – “Archive Vol. 1”
Experimental psychedelic artist Jake Marin released a tape of songs he recorded between 2013 and 2016. It’s seven tracks; Marin plays with electronic effects and scattered percussion that range in structure from ominous ambient to vivacious freak pop. “Make Light” and “Dish Interest” are the only two tracks containing lyrics, while “Stay Outside” appears to be a meticulously layered sample
Read moreARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Astral Hand
LA’s psych-space rockers Hooveriii (pronounced hoover-three) came to Cactus Club Monday evening, enlisting Milwaukee’s Astral Hand as well as Minneapolis’ post-punk shoegazers Cult of Lip for an epic musical odyssey that brought in a packed house. Astral Hand consists of vocalist/synthesizer Al Kraemer, guitarist Vic Buell, bassist Anthony Smith, and drummer Dan Dahl. This was their first show in an
Read moreAUDIO: Adorner – “Right Time / All the Time”
Psychedelic rockers Adorner recently dropped their debut single. With soaring vocal harmonies, New Age-friendly piano and sensual guitars, the band conjures a multicolored layer cake of a song, bursting with lovelorn emotion. It’s the type of song where you notice a different sound or component embedded every time you give it a listen. We hope to hear more from this
Read moreAUDIO: Colorblind Chameleon – “Colorblind Chameleon (Live in Minneapolis)”
Psychedelic rockers Colorblind Chameleon’s first-ever release on streaming platforms is a live album from a show they did in the Twin Cities. The result is a wicked party record that fuses prog, jazz, and classic rock into a good time to spill beer to. The banter is friendly and only here to have fun as well. It’s easy to tell
Read moreAUDIO: Deerskin – “Ayah”
Psychedelic bass producer Deerskin’s latest tune is inspired by an Ayahuasca vocal sample from South America. The result is a chillout jam certainly suitable for reclining but it’s also got plenty of cerebral effects laced in per Deerskin fashion. The bass drones in and out while about halfway in the tempo switches into a liquid stomper. We hope there’s more
Read moreAUDIO: Sleepy Gaucho – “SuEňos Que Sobran”
Andy Goitia transcends space, time and genres on his new EP.
Read moreAUDIO: Shogun – “Tetra”
Stoner rockers Shogun released a new album this week. Psychedelic and fantastical, the band brings enough riffage here to stop a demonic galleon trekking across the stormy sky. They move mountains with the epic “Delta,” enter a ruminative trance with the somber “Gone Forever,” and cry victoriously with the prevailing “Maximum Ray.” The guitar solos annihilate all in their path
Read moreAUDIO: Deerskin – “Back to Source”
Psychedelic bass producer Deerskin released a new EP this week. These three tracks put you right in the mind of a trippy guru, as the cover art suggests. Through the metaphysical conduits and spiritual ducts, Deerskin takes his sound to exciting new horizons with infectious rhythms and tasty zaps. If you like your bass tribal and sophisticated, Deerskin’s new EP
Read moreVIDEO: Joe Wong – “Minor + Nuclear Rainbow”
Psychedelic artist Joe Wong has a double video out from his recent album “Nite Creatures.” Beginning with “Minor,” Wong is shown singing from outside his window as a harpist plucks the melody. He is gradually joined by several other musicians playing from their windows as well. Wong is then shown playing a drumset in the middle of a desert, which
Read moreAUDIO: The Last Bees – “We Got it Going”
Neo-psych pop rockers The Last Bees’ new single is about climbing to the top. We’ve endured the pain and the world can’t stop us. The band is optimistic and cheerful with a positive message about getting through trials and tribulations. We hope to hear more from The Last Bees soon.
Read moreAUDIO: VBIV – “Fun Boy”
Neo-psychedelia artist VBIV’s latest single revolves around the hopes of being with a girl. The song continues the other-worldly desert feel present on VBIV’s recent EP “Fallen Angels” with triumphant horns, atmospheric percussion, and reverb-heavy vocals. Mixing acoustic and electronic instrumentation, the song begs for adventure with that special someone. We hope VBIV has more to come soon.
Read moreAUDIO: VBIV – “Fallen Angels”
VBIV is the electronic psych project of Victor Buell IV. He’s got a new record out; frankly it could be the soundtrack to a science fiction first-person-shooter. The title track feels like a voyage down an interstellar highway while “Star Lord” is a dark shoegaze jam that outruns supernovas and “Solace” is brightly laden with dawning synths and bird samples.
Read moreAUDIO: The Last Bees – “Earlier Grave”
Pop rockers The Last Bees’ latest tune is heavily inspired by ’60s psychedelia. It’s about the irrational thinking, apathy, and extremes one may fall into when they’re faced with persistent uncertainty. Vocalist Ian Ash told 88Nine that he’d been inspired by The Beatles’ “Ticket to Ride” for the song’s demeanor and that the pandemic created a unique scenario that fit
Read moreVIDEO: Mr. Nice Guy with Al Kraemer
Ben Slowey talks with the member of Astral Hand and Moon Rats.
Read moreAUDIO: Astral Hand – “Navigator”
Psychedelic space rockers Astral Hand have a boatload of music they’ve been sitting on, and they’ve treated us to a new single this week. Get ready to drift into uncharted celestial bodies with your intergalactic crew – this track embarks us on a heavy odyssey through space and time. We don’t know if or when we’ll land, but the band
Read moreAUDIO: Eric Blowtorch And tHe Bodyguards – “Mercy”
Eric Blowtorch and the Bodyguards aren’t afraid to get weird with it on their new single.
Read moreAUDIO: Psyclopean – “Ex Oblivione”
Psychedelic-ambient project Psyclopean is out with a new record, based upon the H.P Lovecraft story. Building on the visceral desolation Psyclopean has sonically conjured before, the music here feels like loneliness in space at times but stumbling on a desert civilization at others. About halfway through there’s horse samples, as well as someone smoking a bong. Neat, right? It’s certainly
Read moreAUDIO: Moonglow – “Brick Wall”
Moonglow, formerly known as Commodore Calipso, is out with their second single today. The band brings a unique fusion of funk, soul, neo-psychedelia, and rock while heavily inspired by Japanese city-pop. Featuring horns, shattering bass and twinkling guitars, vocalist Joe Humiston brings an infectious performance where he sings of being in a hopeless trance. Moonglow’s exciting fusion is sure to
Read moreAUDIO: Conundrum – “Is As, There Was”
Prog-psych rockers Conundrum are out with their long-awaited sophomore EP. Beginning with a vibrant and ambient soundscape, the first track features space-like vocals that bring us into an intergalactic daydream. The second track, featuring Mike Neumeyer on vibraphone, is shorter but brings more complex and jazzy instrumentation. The third track had been the EP’s lead single and is a satire
Read moreAUDIO: Vinz Clortho – “Fools Paradise II”
The band sounds like a surreal roadhouse jukebox on their latest EP.
Read moreAUDIO: Underground Hive – “Breakaway”
Underground Hive’s latest is about not being able to take your eyes off someone.
Read moreAUDIO: Shogun – “Addendum”
The stoner-doom metal band are back with their first release in over two years.
Read moreAUDIO: Space Raft – “Positively Space Raft”
The band returns triumphantly with their first album in over four years.
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