Alex Eliopoulo | Occult Stereo
Occult Stereo is a self-produced project from Alex Eliopoulos, previously of the San Francisco band, Impuritan. Recorded over three years in Athens, Greece, but with songs written in San Francisco before the pandemic, this is truly a unique album with high levels of experimentation and creativity. This project is an open collaboration with other artists as well, adding to ’its complex tapestry of “Occult” sounds. The band “embraces aural freedom in many forms, from ambient soundscapes to fuzz-guitar freak outs and drone-like psychedelic oceans.” Abrasive, yet soothing at the same time, the record speaks to the whole spectrum of musical tone, a yin yang of styles that can’t be described with established genres of music. Blistering psych tremolo kicks off the record with some great experimental guitar sounds and pulsating tom tom drums.
Ethereal vocals fill out the chorus of the song, “Perfectly Obvious.” “In Between Lines” is a short track that goes right into a more experimental dance moment with distorted punk vocals. “A Glow” is softer, opening with light tabla and bass piano notes invoking an ambient dark forest at night, as acoustic guitars slowly take over the mix. Already three tracks into the album, and each song has a different feel, showing dynamic range and a prog sensibility. On “Same Life, Different Face,” we have more ambient experimental sounds before cutting off into just drums and vocals only, then going back into some amazing distorted psych guitar walls of sound. “Burn the Manifesto” has a distorted ambient feel, floating in space with Brian Eno and Fennesz. Some of the production techniques feel very “Eno-esque” at places, as a high compliment. “New Drip” has a cathedral-like opening, with a heavy metal distorted bass taking it deeper, before going into a Bad Brains or Dead Kennedy’s style punk vocal, followed by some next level sonic computer distortion. There are sounds and sonic moments on this album that I’ve never heard before, and they are indescribable to the human ear. “Kiss my Mask” takes us into more of an Ambient vocal drone plane, with nice poly rhythm of electronic drums, reminding me of the song “Cat People” by David Bowie with elements of Krautrock sprinkled in.
“Not Mysterious” is one of the more traditional songs on the album with vocals and a heavy “Sabbath” riff towards the end. “Cold Stars” is a hefty 13-minute epic track with some genius levels of beats and experimental sonics, reminding me a bit of the band Anubian Lights and their collaborations with Hawkwind frontman, Nik Turner. “Power” is the penultimate acoustic guitar song of the album with a Celtic folk vibe of male and female vocals. “Wishes” closes the album as the soundtrack to a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With an album like this, it doesn’t matter where one song ends and another begins. This album is best to be listened to as a whole, just enjoying the progressive experience, start to finish. Very atmospheric at points and highly creative, Occult Stereo creates its own world, and travels freely through its vast solar system.
Social Media
https://occultstereo.bandcamp.com/music
