The Soft Machine
Style: Canterbury Scene, Psych Pop, Progressive Pop, Jazz-Influenced
Moods: Surreal, Whimsical, Dadaist, Playful, Joyful, Uplifting
Musical Qualities: Suite, Catchy, Complex, Uncommon Time Signatures, Loose
psych pop
Kevin Ayers – Whatevershesbringswesing
Style: Canterbury Scene, Progressive Pop, Art Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Vibe: Playful, Uplifting, Eclectic, Joyful, Eccentric, Stoned, Warm, Eccentric, Romantic
Musical Qualities: Catchy, Lush, Melodic, Lyrical, Orchestral
Pearls Before Swine – One Nation Underground
Style: Acid Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Chamber-Folk
Moods: Surreal, Philosophical, Pacifist, Eclectic, Medieval, Cryptic, Melancholy, Spring, Morning, Conscious, Moody, Whimsical, Protest, Political, Psychedelic, Acerbic
Instrumentation: Acoustic Guitar, Harpsichord, Organ, Autoharp, Banjo, Mandolin, Vibraphone, Audio Oscillator, Electric Bass, English Horn, Clavioline, Sarangi, Finger Cymbals, Swinehorn
Animal Collective – Feels
Style: Neo-Psychedelia, Psych Pop
Moods: Hallucinogenic, Warm, Eccentric, Uplifting, Whimsical, Comforting, Spring, Playful, Romantic, Messy
Musical Qualities: Dense, Melodic, Dynamic, Rhythmic
Kevin Ayers – Bananamour
Vibe: Uplifting, Spring, Whimsical, Groovy, Peaceful, Spacey, Sunny, Joyful
Musical Qualities: Lush, Catchy, Polished, Background Singers, Lyrical
Style: Psychedelic Soul, Canterbury Scene, Prog-Pop
Todd Rundgren – A Wizard, a True Star
Style: Neo-Psychedelia, Prog-Pop, Psychedelic Soul, Art Rock
Vibe: Triumphant, Colorful, Longing, Utopian, Eccentric, Futuristic, Joyful, Love, Manic, Playful, Psychedelic, Surreal, Uplifting,
Musical Qualities: Suite, Eclectic, Melodic, Dense Arrangements, Studio-as-an-Instrument
Tame Impala – Lonerism
Style: Psych Pop, Dream Pop, Shoegaze, Neo-Psychedelia
Vibe: Dreamy, Catchy, Lush, Warm, Alienation, Psychedelic, Studio-as-an-instrument
Musical Attributes: Melodic, Studio-as-an-Instrument, Headphone Album
Alex G – Beach Music
Listening to Alex G, one might imagine a young alien sitting alone in his martian bedroom baring his angsty, teenage confessions to his 4-track tape recorder. Yet, at the core of his music, underneath layers of psychedelic guitars, weird pitch-shifted vocals, and occasional lo-fi hiss, lies some genius pop songs that feel simultaneously adolescent and mature.
Recommended for fans of lo-fi experimentation and bedroom pop. Alex seems to pull influences from all over and channel them through his own unique personality and penchant for odd, psychedelic production. Recalls Elliot Smith’s loner acoustic songwriting and drum machines pulled from 80?s pop songs; there’s even a fucked up jazz piano ballad thrown into the mix.
Caribou – Andorra
Style: Psychedelic Pop
Vibe: Sunny, Warm, Romantic, Retro, Spring, Breezy
Musical Attributes: Melodic, Lush, Polished, Electronic Production, Catchy, Lyrical
The Soft Machine – The Soft Machine [2nd Press]
Style: Canterbury Scene, Psych Pop, Progressive Pop, Jazz-Influenced
Moods: Surreal, Whimsical, Dadaist, Playful, Joyful, Uplifting
Musical Qualities: Suite, Catchy, Complex, Uncommon Time Signatures, Loose
Glass Tree Season – Colour [Track Review]
Months after introducing us to the hazy bedroom-psych of his debut EP, songwriter/producer Ainsley Scullion returns with a glossy new single under his Glass Tree Season moniker. “Colour” features an upgrade in production and fidelity, without much alteration to his chilled out style of psychedelic dream-pop. The track begins with a slow, melancholy chord progression …
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Cobra Juicy
Released in 2012 on Rad Cult/FrenchKiss Format: LP, Orange Vinyl
Panda Bear – Person Pitch
Originally Released in 2007 on Paw Tracks 2017 Vinyl Me, Please pressing on My Animal Home Limited Edition Format: LPx2, 45rpm, white and turquoise vinyl
Glass Tree Season – EP
Producing solo music can be an isolating, obsessive experience that creates somewhat of a disconnect with the outside world, yet this very experience often results in intimate forms of self-expression meant to forge new connections with listeners. UK songwriter & producer Ainsley Scullion (Glass Tree Season) seems to relish in this alone time, patiently refining …
Track Review: Palm Spiral – “Only Shadow”
Following a precise fill from the rhythm section, a shimmering guitar chord kicks “Only Shadow” into a tight, catchy groove, bathing the crisp drums and plunky bass line in a sun-kissed glow. At first impression, Palm Spiral’s debut single sounds like it could be a lost Tame Impala track, suggesting a hypothetical middle path between …
The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Released in 1967 on Capitol Records Format: LP, includes cut outs
The Flaming Lips – Soft Bulletin
Style: Psychedelic Pop, Neo-Psychedelia
Moods: Surreal, Science Fiction, Epic, Bittersweet, Triumphant, Sentimental, Playful, Apocalyptic, Warm, Melancholy, Existential, Anthemic
Musical Qualities: Catchy, Lush, Melodic, Polished
The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
Originally released in 1966 on Capitol Records 1980 Mono pressing Format: LP
Love – Forever Changes
Originally released in 1967 on Elektra 2012 Rhino Pressing, cut from original analogue masters Format: LP
Black Moth Super Rainbow – Eating Us
Released in 2009 on Graveface Records Format: LPx2, Stoughton Foil Sleeve Includes 24″x24″ poster RSD 2010 Pressing
MGMT – Congratulations
Style: Psych Pop, Surf, Progressive Pop
Vibe: Surreal, Sunny, Warm, Retro, Playful, Existential, Psychedelic
Musical Qualities: Lush, Melodic, Catchy, Progressive
Dr. Dog – Easy Beat
Style: Psych-Pop
Vibe: Sunny, Happy, Catchy
Musical Attributes: Simple, Vocal Harmonies, Lyrical, Melodic
Soft Machine – Volume Two
Soft Machine’s second album is an eclectic suite packed full of whimsical psychedelia, Dadaist detours, complex prog structures and jazz-inspired musicianship.
Vinyl Williams – Into
Kaleidoscopic pop driven by round, groovy bass locked in with funky, motorik drumming, all floating through layers of swirling, delayed guitars, shimmering synths, and dreamy vocals. Recommended to anyone looking for a smooth, sugary middle ground between Stereolab, Toro y Moi, and Neu!
Dead Recipe – Day of Mangoes [Review]
“Day of Mangoes” is overstimulation at it’s finest. Just imagine floating down a river through an unexplored tropical paradise where every corner brings a new array of colorful sounds. Warm synths gliding over clunking piano give way to chorus-drenched highlife guitars strumming over thick synth basslines. Manipulated vocal samples emerge from nowhere and then disappear into radio static just as quickly…RIYL: Animal Collective, King Sunny Ade, & Madlib