Dummy - Mandatory Enjoyment (Trouble In Mind)

 

Dummy formed in Los Angeles in 2018, and after releasing a couple of EPs, we have their debut album of Krautrock-inspired songs, brimming with droning organ and motorik rhythms. Taking classic Cluster/ Neu! as a starting point, and adding in lush melodies a-la Broadcast or Stereolab results in a superb blend of the old and the new, and the odd bit of shoegaze guitar doesn’t go amiss either. The title says it all.          

    
Dummy - Fissured Ceramics

Amarok - Hero (Oskar Records)

 

Amarok is the brainchild of Polish musician Michal Wojtas, who released three albums under the name in the early 2000’s, before taking an extended break and returning in 2017 with ‘Hunt’. ‘Storm' followed in 2019, and now we have the latest album from this excellent prog-rock band, adding violin to the mix to give some tracks a bit more depth, while the overall sound remains progressive rock of the highest order.         

    
Amarok - I'm A Rock

35 Tapes - Home (Apollon Records)

 

I stumbled on Norwegian prog-rockers 35 Tapes on Youtube, and as soon as I found out they’d named themselves after the number of tapes in a mellotron I knew they were my kind of band. ‘Home’ is their second album of symphonic space-rock, lovingly re-creating the sound of classic 70’s prog with Camel-like swathes of synth overlaid with searing Floydian guitar-lines. A well-kept secret that needs exposing.   

    
35 Tapes - Undertows

W. H. Lung - Vanities (Melodic Records)

 

When W. H .Lung burst onto the scene in 2016 they were a breath of fresh air in a stagnant indie scene, and their 2019 debut album did not disappoint, but losing a member to a film career, and relocating the band have caused vocalist Joe Evans to rethink the group, and this album is a different beast altogether. The engaging indie psyche/pop has been replaced by synth-led electro, and I’m not sure if it’s a success.         

W. H. Lung - Calm Down

The Bevis Frond - Little Eden (Fire Records)

 

A new album from The Bevis Frond is always cause for celebration, especially when it’s as good as this one. It’s been three years since ‘We’re Your Friends, Man’, and Nick Saloman has amassed enough songs for an 80-minute double album, most of which are short, snappy rockers. For me, though, the band are at their best when they stretch out, so ‘Dreams Of Flying’ and ‘As I Lay Down To Die’ are my picks.  

    
The Bevis Frond - Everyone Rise

The Cosmic Mellow - The Cosmic Mellow (Bandcamp)

 

The Cosmic Mellow hail from California, and if ever a band’s name told you exactly what they sounded like then it's this one. Taking in surf-rock, 70's folk and electronics, they’ve produced an album of soft psychedelic sounds that hark back to the Summer Of Love, where songs like 'Endless Wave’ and ‘Clear My Mind’ sound right at home. Relax, chill out, and listen to some cosmic, mellow, and groovy tunes.       

    
The Cosmic Mellow - Endless Wave

Mahogany Frog - In The Electric Universe (MoonJune Records)

 

The Canadian jazz/psyche/electro instrumental four-piece deliver their seventh album, and the 14-minute opener 'Theme From P.D.' sets out their stall from the start, ebbing and flowing from smooth ambience to pummelling crescendos. ‘((Sundog))' closes in a similar fashion with 17-minutes of epic electro-jazz, and in between we have pounding drums and atonal guitars on a selection of Softs-style jazz excursions.         

    
Mahogany Frog - Cube

Inhaler – It Won’t Always Be Like This (Polydor)

Inhaler were going to feature in one of my last New Band Specials, but their album dropped so quickly that they’re no longer an unknown entity, especially since we found out that they include Bono's brother Elijah on vocals, but that not important as the music speaks for itself. It’s classic indie rock, all anthemic choruses and radio-friendly hooks, and the assured musicianship makes up for any naivety in the lyrics.          

    
Inhaler - It Won't Always Be Like This

Ghosts Of Jupiter - Keepers Of The Newborn Green (Self-released)

I hadn’t heard this band before I got this album, but on checking them out I found that their early records were guitar/organ stoner rock, whereas this is more pastoral progressive rock. The lyrics might reflect modern issues, such as the pandemic, the media and politics, but setting them to prog-rock instrumental passages means they don't come over as too preachy. Overall it’s a very successful change of direction.   

    
Ghosts Of Jupiter - The Undertaking

Goat - Headsoup (Rocket Recordings)

Goat are probably my favourite modern psychedelic band, but with seven albums and numerous singles, where do you start if you don’t know them? Well, this collection of b-sides, radio edits and unreleased tracks is as good a place as any, as it gives a fine overview of what these freaky Swedes have been up to since 2012. If you like what you hear then check out their brilliant ‘World Music' debut album.       

    
Goat - The Sun The Moon

Roy - Roy’s Garden (Bandcamp)

Roy is the brainchild of one Patrick Lefler, who is a psychedelic scholar with a deep musical knowledge of the genre, and he’s put it to good use on this, his fifth album. This is very much a homage to the 60’s, with fuzz-laden rockers next to Wilson-esque pocket symphonies, and you can hear the care taken to get the feel just so. Following his recent alien visitation concept album, this one is much more down to earth.            

    
Roy - In The Garden Defeated

Ringlefinch - Tall Tales (Folkroom)

 

Ringlefinch formed in 2012, and following a number of line-up changes have settled as a seven-piece for the recording of their first real album after releasing a couple of EPs. Led by songwriter/vocalist Andy Logan, the band seem to revel in the tall tales of the title, with songs based on folklore from the past, as well as some heartfelt ballads, and the playing from the whole band is superb. If you like folk/rock, then give it a try.   

    
Ringlefinch - Edward Gorey's Gory Stories

Tangents – Timeslips & Chimeras (Temporary Residence)

Australian band Tangents have been around since 2010, releasing three albums of improvised electro/ post-rock. Long jams are recorded and then edited in post-production and overlaid with other instruments and effects to produce semi-structured pieces which include jazz, rock and electronics. This double disc combines last years digital only 'Timeslips' with new music on 'Chimeras', and rewards investigation.        

    
Tangents - Vessel

Low – Hey What (Sub Pop)

 

It’s been three years since Low's last album, but this one carries on the extraordinary sounds of ‘Double Negative’ as if they were made at the same time. What seemed like an aberration at the time has now become the norm, with jagged distortion overlaying the sweet vocals of Alan and Mimi at the heart of the songs. I've loved the hushed beauty of Low’s music for years, but this new direction is growing on me.       

    
Low - White Horses