Released in March 2021, this album includes lots of the band’s songs written during the pandemic era. Formed in 2011, this is the bands fourth album as they continue to hone in on their sound. They are not afraid to be melodic in any way and embrace their pop sensibilities. Songs about beaches and surfboards, with a heavy Brian Wilson influence, sit alongside more garage-type songs and imaginative guitar solos. “It’s Over” starts off the album with bells and vocal harmonies, with a huge sound to follow, including horns and regal fanfare on the chorus section. “To You I’m Bound” is a fun and catchy love song with a memorable…
-
-
W.I.T.C.H. “Zango”
This 2023 release is the first new music from the band in over 40 years. It is also the first album since 1976 to feature front man and co-founder Emmanuel “Jagari” Chanda. Joined by a younger band of European musicians who breathe new life into the music, the album retains classic elements of the band’s signature sound, even with an analog recording feel. The title “Zango” refers to a central meeting place in Zambian villages where the community can gather, and exchange ideas and learn from each other. W.I.T.C.H. recently played a free outdoor show at the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater in San Francisco. This “Zango” community feeling was present at…
-
Melody Fields 1901/1991
Swedish Psychedelic rock band, Melody Fields released two albums last year. The first of the two, 1901, is a great blend of classic ’60s psychedelic, shoegaze, and experimental landscapes. Starting off the album is the powerful opening track “Going Back”. With a rolling “Tomorrow Never knows” drum line, solid baseline, and eastern hook to catch your attention. This psych raga track also has lots of the albums signature three part male/female vocal blends which sounds divine. The second track and first single, “Jesus” has a big horn/saxophone riff creating a gospel/rock vibe. One of the best tracks on the album, it creates a “Big Heaven” sound, with the looping riff…
-
Swirlpool | Distant Echoes
After forming in 2017, and releasing an EP and two singles, this is the German shoegaze band’s debut LP. Mixed by Ride’s Mark Gardner, the album has a ’90s “classic” shoegaze feel to it, with all the trademarks of hushed vocals, whammy bar tone bending, reverb and distortion, but with the band’s new 21st century take as well as their other songwriting influences. All the tracks do have that lush tapestry of production on the whole album. The band has some cool videos to match their sound as well. The opening song, and album name, “Distant Echoes” has a deep, slow-moving distortion wave feel to it, setting the tone for…
-
Kilowatt Bar 3.9.24 – My Dallas Teens, Down Dirty Shake, The Love Dimension
Another Saturday night in San Francisco, and another great psych show. DJ Mr. Robinson spun all vinyl throughout the night, starting out with some chill Ravi Shankar at door time, and building throughout the night through an eclectic mix of classic psych and modern rock music. The projections were provided by White Light Prism, a mix of post-modern collage art and optical art moires throughout all the sets. Each band got their own visual pallet, making each song unique and different looking. Often there were two smaller split screens behind the bands, juxtaposing imagery with flashing strobes of nature visuals, classic 60s psych imagery, surf imagery, and film-grain urban landscapes…
-
IVY ROOM 9.23 | Star Decay, The Love Dimension, Melting Elephants
It was a good turnout for a Wednesday night in Berkeley. It’s good for San Francisco and East Bay bands to play shows on both sides of the Bay. Different people from parts of the city make it out who would not otherwise. It’s hard to always be going to San Francisco or Oakland for shows, as band members often live in many different parts of the Bay Area. People like to go out locally on a weeknight for shows, and it showed at this event. The Ivy Room is a great venue in North Berkeley to do shows for those who live in that neck of the woods. It…
