“Acolyte” by I Think Like Midnight

Philadelphia instrumental 4 piece I Think Like Midnight have a new album out in a few weeks. “This Land is Your Mind” is jam-packed with shimmering and often deliciously psychedelic guitar-driven soundtracks to road-trips way out West of Weirdsville – real or imagined. Here’s “Acolyte”:

The album takes in many moods from surf twang to motorik psychedelia and even instrumental power pop. It often travels similar cosmic trails to the instrumentals of New Zealand’s David Kilgour & The Heavy Eights, and also Australian guitarist Cam Butler. So, if you like those artists or if you like what’s on offer here on “Acolyte”, take the plunge and get the album. You won’t be disappointed.

The recording and sound is rich and colourful, and the ensemble playing by the band balances technical skill with feeling, bringing the arrangements alive. And sometimes those arrangements provide imaginative surprises from additional instruments – keyboards and vibraphone – to add even more layers to the sonic variety and atmosphere.

Here’s another song, called “Tuned Mass Damper”, in video form:

’17th Century Disco Horse’ by The Shocking & The Stunning

Here’s the selection for day 8 of the PopLib New Zealand Music Month 31 Days of May challenge of buying something each day from Bandcamp.

Sometimes restraint, modesty and being ‘low-key’ is just NOT what you need. Sometimes aural overstimulation by ridiculously bombastic drum and keyboard music is EXACTLY what you need. In that the case the music of Wellington duo The Shocking and The Stunning is perfect and this 4 track EP length download is an ideal introduction to their world.

Their music is a kind of cartoon fusion of John Bonham style drum beats and walls of synthesizers drowned in reverb. Imagine the pompous overblown 1970s synth-prog-rock of the likes Patrick Moraz or Jean Michel Jarre re-mixed by Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker. Strangely enough this works brilliantly. The massive sound ebbs and flows, builds layer upon dramatic layers then pulls back and changes course.

I remember hearing the opening track here – the perfectly titled ‘Zombie Fucker’ – played live and loud at the Forest stage at Camp a Low Hum in 2012. That was my introduction to The Shocking & The Stunning. Not sure if I was shocked, but I was certainly momentarily stunned. If you like this do check out the earlier releases here too. It’s all great.