Back catalogue: Psych/Garage Rock

Review: Blackwater Holylight sacrifice their latest EP 'If You Only Knew' to the Suicide Squeeze gods, providing an intermezzo of cosmos and sludge. A chthonic dark psych explosion if we've ever heard one, we hear metal, shoegaze, and psychedelia culminate to an iconoclastic crunch point, as strange auraic statues of Cthulhu shatter before our eyes, evoking the god beast in actuality, not just representation. Lead track 'Wandering Lost' hears the band tear up constellate skies, as producer Sonni DiPerri shapes the track's many shifting structural tides, evoking the many emotional turmoils and stretching-thins of life; Sunny Faris (vocals, guitar, bass) further emphasises its point, that is, to embrace the inequitable unknown.

Review: Straop yourself in and prepare for a cosmic trip on psyched out cosmic polyrhythms with kosmische overtones at the hands of newcomer Glass Beams. This debut on Research Record is a stunning one from the enigmatic producer but will have you googling t find out as much as you can while you get lost in the sliding bass and transcendent synthwork. It's tinged with a certain retro charm and 70s prog magic but also feels decidedly new and fresh. Masterful.

Review: Rain Parade's recent EP Last Stop On The Underground marks their notable return to the music scene, coinciding with the release of their first album in nearly forty years, Last Rays of a Dying Sun. Original members Matt Piucci and Steven Roback, who have been collaborating since 1981, continue their legacy of neo-psychedelic rock with this fresh material. The band, co-founded by the Roback brothers and Piucci, made a significant impact in the 1980s Paisley Underground scene with their debut album Emergency Third Rail Power Trip, widely regarded as a classic. Following David Roback's departure, the band's EP Explosions In The Glass Palace in 1984 maintained their high acclaim and has only grown in reputation over time. Reflecting on the creation of the new EP, Sid Griffin of The Long Ryders mentioned their recent tour with the Third Mind, which inspired Rain Parade to produce new material for their European audience. The EP features three new songs, including the title track, which incorporates elements from an older unfinished piece, and a leftover track from their latest album, creating a cohesive four-song collection. The recording process, guided by Jim Hill in familiar Oakland studios, was efficient, showcasing Rain Parade's ability to craft captivating music swiftly.