Words by Jonathan Stout
When not doing freelance writing, Jonathan Stout is heavily involved in the NKY and Cincinnati music scenes as the Marketing Manager for Kentucky based venue The Southgate House Revival and founder of DIY Recording label Lo Fi City Recordings. He’s also an active musician, performing and recording with Sleepy Drums, Mutt Fuzz, Burnt Cabins and gewgaw.
WITCH returned in June with SOGOLO (Desert Daze Sound) and we’d be remiss to leave it without a Head Space mention (shout out to previous Head Space columnist, Andrew Ryan Fetter’s deep dive)! Legends of psych rock, this band never fails to sound energetic and inspiring. Pioneering the fuzzed out “Zamrock” sound since the 1970’s, it’s quite impressive how fresh they still sound. The album starts with the super strong hard rockers “Kamusale” and “Nadi” but it’s the irresistible shimmering pop numbers like “Queenless King” and “Bang Bang” that groove hard enough to make a dead man dance. SOGOLO really offers something for everyone, covering the psychedelic spectrum with ominous fuzz (“(In Memory Of) John”), rhythm heavy dancers (“Dancer on a Trip”), spacey dub (“Totally Devoted”), atmospheric and soulful balladry (“Tiponde Madzi”) and more. To put it simply, they keep things interesting enough to make the 39 minute run time seem much shorter.
Bitchin’ Bajas are having a prolific year, already returning with a new release, following April’s collaborative release Totality (Drag City) with The Natural Information Society. Releasing on September 26, Inland See (Drag City) finds the unit really locking in to create some truly hypnotic material. Mostly written on the road and recorded together at Chicago’s Electrical Audio by Cooper in Studio B, the record has a very natural and effortless sound. The compositions are wonderfully spiraling and evolving synth driven prog pieces, ranging from busy Krafterwerk-like woven melodies to meditative ambient excursions. Both of these concepts can be felt in the sprawling album closer, “Graut” which seems to capture almost a child-like sense of wonder and rollicking melody. This is a very cerebral band that can truly suck you in if you’re listening hard enough.
Yawning Man guitarist Gary Arce continues to churn out thought provoking guitar work, much to the pleasure of stoner rock fans everywhere! SoftSun was formed in 2023 by Arce and bassist/vocalist Pia Isaksen (PIA ISA) and on their second album they are joined by Robert Garson on drums. To be released on November 7, Eternal Sunrise (Heavy Psych Sounds) follows closely behind 2024’s Daylight In The Dark with similar slow, melancholic compositions filled with atmosphere and mystery. “A Hundred and Sixteen” could almost be a Cure song in its overall ominous sensibilities, coupled with slow marching drums and melodic, delay-heavy lead guitar parts. Indeed, SoftSun is a different beast than Arce’s many other celebrated bands. Not as hard hitting as Yawning Man or as grooving as Big Scenic Nowhere, SoftSun instead has a much keener focus on darkness and melody, weaving listeners through eerie, airy compositions that envelop and carry the listener through a sky of storm clouds, always on the cusp of bursting.
Louisiana’s Silver Synthetic has an understated greatness that I really appreciate. Their newest release Rosalie (Curation Records) continues on the same mellow but engaging foundation that they laid out on their 2021 self-titled release, but drives it all home with much more comfort and finesse. Mixing together 60s/70s classic rock with shades of early aught indie rock and cosmic country, this collection could safely be whipped out at a family barbecue – the boomers would rock out (believing it to be something they are already familiar with) and there’s just enough almost-Mac Demarco contemporary flare to appease younger listeners as well. It’s an updated take on the sounds pioneered by bands like The Grateful Dead and The Byrds, done tastefully, without falling into ham fisted jams or tear in your beer balladry like the pitfalls of many of their peers. These are sunny, concise little numbers that are heavy on the melodies and good vibes.