Ariel Pink
The latest picks from Getintothis’ Matthew Wood include a vintage piece of work from the kings of melancholy, Australian glam rock and some breezy blues crafted on Merseyside.
Single of the Week
‘Another weekend out of my life‘ mourns Ariel Pink, the iconic figure of hypnogogic pop in his latest track in run up to the release of his latest record Dedicated to Bobby Jameson. As Ariel Pink goes it’s one of his most accessible tracks, turning his talent to the gentle crooner we see in his top notch cover of Baby by the largely unknown Donnie and Joe Emerson.
The album is, as the title would suggest, dedicated to Bobby Jameson, another near mythical figure who rose to prominence in the 60’s brushing shoulders with Jagger and co. and a Mr. Frank Zappa. Woozy chords join the delicious tones of neon light that flood the video while a troubled looking Pink poses innocently under the Technicolor glow.
The National – Guilty Party
The kings of melancholy are at the height of their powers at the moment; they played a blistering set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury which seemed to them a mere walk in the park, and their latest releases see them aging gracefully like a vintage bottle.
Guilty Party is all Matt Berninger’s, carving calm yet effective melodies amid dark, sustained chords and a classic National drum beat, simple yet often perplexing, finding distinct rhythms that not many others can.
Glitchy electronics open and close the track, perhaps foreshadowing a taste of the unknown for The National, veering away from their baroque-indie and dabbling in electronics… but then again probably not, where’s the class in that?
DUSST – Ravens For Neighbours
Offering up some real macrocosmic themes in this one, Liverpool-based psych addicts DUSST take a trip beyond the empirical into the afterlife featuring footage from the Alejandro Jodorowsky fantasy movie, The Holy Mountain.
Channelling their love for the Floyd, the track opens with a lounging jam marked by big jangling chords and flowing drum fills. An ascending riff breaks the jam, reaching beyond and kickstarting the chorus. The track’s solo is one to behold, cutting away any resonance from the chorus to more lo-fi guitar tones, the intricate licks are served up with a tricky beat before launching back into their mellow jam.
Wesley Fuller – #1 Song
This fluffy-haired Aussie rides a wave of 70’s glam and 60’s psychedelia with a distinct British tone. #1 Song opens with a shimmering riff that recalls the legendary work of Johnny Marr but perhaps a little more influence from the ocean spray as opposed to the pouring Manchester rain.
Fuller’s vocal harnesses a pool of legendary influence, also, sounding somewhere between Lennon, Bolan and Kevin Parker, his vocal take charge of the track’s rhythm and sparks the track to life. Another dose of well measured rock & roll from down under, Fuller’s debut album Inner City Dream is out September 22.
Acadian Driftwood – Rain Falling In
Acadian Driftwood delve deep into the roots of musical history, harnessing the best of country and blues and fusing it into modern day jams. Boasting a sea of talent among the three of them, you’ve probably seen front-man Bobby Johnson exhibiting his knack for guitar across the city and he now leads his three-piece in a fresh storm of rock & roll.
Rain Falling In proves itself a well-crafted number; Johnson sets up dichotomies throughout with some clever word play and a uniquely mature vocal that resounds with the influence of blues legends. With the addition of some slick slide guitar and rich backing vocals the track progresses into a bitter/sweet chorus ‘Rain falling in/Sun coming up‘, feeling both jubilant yet a little downtrodden by an endless cycle of opposites.
Their single release includes B-Side Mother’s House which shimmers with equal promise, a perfect combo to let the sun in on a breezy Sunday morning. Enjoy!
Kaleida – Echo Saw You
London-based electronic duo Kaleida originally rose to fame after one of their tracks featured in the Keanu Reeves movie John Wick. They’re now set to release their debut album, Tear The Roots, September 15.
Echo Saw You is very much a product of location, dealing heavily in influence from major London-based stars such as The XX, James Blake and Sampha. Full to the brim with neat melody duos, vast expanses created by minimalist electronica and a steady build to a drop that never comes.
While it perhaps lacks the tenacity and technical ability of some of their counterparts, it’s by all means a well finished number; pensive and heartfelt, maybe they’ll feature in a Scandinavian drama this time.
The Local Stigmatic – Summer’s Over (ft. Fydsy & Zach Wolfe)
Taking their name from an unreleased Al Pacino movie, and hailing from West Kirby, The Local Stigmatic produce kaleidoscopic pop that’s as weird as it is wonderful. Some pretty magical harmonies begin proceedings, wonky enough to recall Animal Collective’s whacky vocals and crisp and clear enough to send you hurtling back in time to a 1960’s California beach.
As the track progresses we ease into a glimmering acoustic number, finely textured with maracas and tambourine, favouring these delicate sounds which work perfectly with the Wayne Coyne-esque vocal. The band don’t even have a working website link yet but those rich harmonies are not to go unnoticed.
TOY – Dream Orchestrator (TVAM Remix)
These psych geniuses seem to have gone off the boil of late, but with dates announced for September and this cheeky remix release, perhaps we’re in for more treats from the Brighton boys?
This remix from Wigan’s TVAM takes a belter of a track and toys with it’s bare bones. Tom DOugall’s haunting vocal stands alone casting sonic shadows all around while the temptation to launch into the kraut-rock jam becomes too much.
Launching into a motorik blast of psych and electronica, sinister layers pervade the track, pulsing, reverberating, sprialling and squeezing out every last drop of energy from this orchestration from the dream orchestrators.
Omni – Equestrian
Taken from their upcoming second album Multi-Tasking, Equestrian is the latest outing from Atlanta’s incredibly quirky outfit Omni. Streaming down the same wonky-ass vein as Parquet Courts, the trio use their angular prowess to forge truly unique constructions of innocent Noughties indie rock and the avant-garde rock of Television.
Equestrian is typically jaunty, never leaving you to settle into a rhythm, there’s always a trick around the corner with Omni, whether it be an unexpected key change or a ridiculous shift of speed, they’ll keep you on their toes. Despite their confident display of interplay, they still manage to sound modest, not pushing their talents to the point where it’s a mere exhibition of complex song-writing, but allowing you just enough to enjoy, move on and then try to figure out what’s coming next.
Son Little – Blue Magic (Waikiki)
Son of a preacher, rhythm and blues figure, Son Little marks his return with this smooth-like-butter, feel good effort. Hitting you instantly with the infectious chorus, Little’s backing choir groove to an uplifting jam singing ‘I got the Blue Magic‘, tropical bongos pattering beneath.
Son Little’s opening verse is spectacularly delivered, his flow sets the bar high and his voice cracks soulfully, ‘I got blues so tragic/ probably 44 moons or more’. As the track progresses you’re swept away by the carnival of soul infusion that’s bound to make this a summer anthem, and there’s more on the way, as Son Little releases his second album New Magic, out September 15.
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