In the late 1990s, as the last vestiges of Britpop died away in a hailstorm of mediocre, second tier bands, there was an unexpected surge in blues-infused psychedelia, best characterized in the likes of Spiritualized (alongside their Lupine Howl offshoot) and, from across the pond, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Inspired by the likes of Julian Cope and the Thirteenth Floor Elevators, these bands tapped into a vein of music that was rich in inspiration and the psychedelic scene, championed by outlets such as Ripple, has flourished. Now, into the fray comes Psyence, a Stoke-On-Trent five-piece who have drawn on that same rich heritage of psyche, rock ‘n’ roll and electronica to deliver a sparkling debut that captivates from the opening bars of lead single Cold Blooded Killer and promises bright things for the future of psyche-rock.
Opening with a surging riff reminiscent of Radiohead, cold blood killer draws on the Delta-blues-influenced BRMC and infuses that sound with potent rock energy, the result being a lysergic stomp that starts the album off with a bang. Second track black hole evokes the spirit of another monstrously underrated UK band in the form of the Cooper Temple Clause, Steve ‘Wedge’ Pye’s soaring vocals set against a sparkling backdrop of jangly guitar and starry-eyed synth (Ben ‘Pig’ Nixon) that hooks the listener for the duration. Surely a track that should be in the running for second single, into the unknown is based around Joe ‘Gonzo’ Walshes frantically dance-able rhythm as Wedge and Jamie ‘Carty’ Cartlidge lay down a wall of sparkling guitar noise, whilst come closer has a somnolent melody that drags Syd Barrett’s nervy guitar explorations into the twenty-first century via touches of the Screaming Trees and Radiohead. Bold, exciting and colourful, it’s even better when listened to on headphones as you get the benefit of Carty’s deft backing vocals. The track even throws in a curve-ball rock riff towards its conclusion, which will have the audience in a froth at live shows. The first half of the album concludes with the whimsical dream invader, a head trip that taps into a world not seen since the 14 hour Technicolour Dream and leaves the listener in awe of the myriad colours the music evokes.
Kicking off the album’s second half, you will never know is pure psychedelic pop only for the anvil-sized riff of the short, sharp midnight moonlight to suddenly blast the listener back into a state of wakefulness although, even here, the band aren’t so easy to follow, with the riffs giving way to a moody verse awash with creeping synths and wah-inflected guitar. The band’s electronic influences come even more to the fore with the stuttering intro to bad seed, the track’s brisk pace underpinned by rhythmic sweeps that give the piece additional depth. Yet another song that would make a great single (the album is chock full of them), falling in love has ‘classic’ written all over it, the band delivering a song that, had it been released a decade or two ago, would have eaten the charts whole and still left room for dessert. What’s more, Psyence make it seem effortless, and the rich, warm production surrounds the listener like a bath. It’s a perfect moment and it neatly paves the way for album closer a new dawn, a restrained, jazzy piece that softly draws the curtain on an album that frequently lights up the sky like the brightest firework display.
Well-versed in a wide array of influences, Psyence deftly synthesise these into an album that has its own distinct sound and presence and which truly captivates the listener from the very start. With a production job that is best appreciated through really good headphones (take a bow Sam Bloor and Santi Arribas), Psyence have produced a debut album that repays repeat listens thanks to the myriad layers woven into the fabric of the songs, whilst simultaneously delivering the instant hit required in a world where streaming still dominates. A fantastic album, the band display such confidence and skill that it’s hard to believe it’s their debut and it promises great things for the future. 9.5/10
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