“Shem is a collective of musicians aiming to perform improvisational sound pieces influenced by a wide range of eras and strains of psychedelic and progressive music. Through combining elements of ambient, drone, psych and space rock into epic, reverb drenched jams, Shem try to reach out beyond the established boundaries of musical conventions to create their own realm of sonic experimentation. Constantly moving and shape-shifting within this realm, their third album sees the German collective explore further the meditative and ritualistic aspects of ambient music, the sonic outbursts of space rock and the atavistic rhythms of Krautrock.”
Ampacity – IV (2023)
Apodemus – Atlas (2023)
PNEM – FM / AM (2023)
Ecstatic Vision – Live at Dunajam (2023)
“Live At Dunajam is the brand new album of the US psychedelic wizards Ecstatic Vision. Recorded live at the legendary Dunajam in June 2022.”
Expo Seventy – Totality Wormhole (2023)
“Expo ’70 is Justin Wright. He began producing this otherworldly music in 2003 while living in Los Angeles. Residing in Kansas City, Missouri now, Wright produces music that is sought after by people all over the world. Wright has toured extensively over the last decade. More recently Wright has added a drummer and bassist to the mix which has started release albums and touring as Expo Seventy.”
Carlton Melton – Resemble Ensemble (2023)
“‘Resemble Ensemble’ is the eighth studio effort from Californian psych outfit Carlton Melton. Expanding to a four-piece with the addition of White Manna’s Anthony Taibi, the band sound even more energised and ambitious than even 2022’s magnificent ‘Microwavelengths’ – the eleven-minute psych-raga opus ‘Prescribed Skies’ sets the tone for a kosmische odyssey.”
Heavy Blanket – Moon Is (2023)
“J Mascis is back with his legendary instrumental psych project Heavy Blanket! Heavy Blanket’s debut LP was a mind blowing showcase of J’s psychedelic guitar work, and the follow up live LP with Earthless’ rhythm section as the backing band was the next step in Heavy Blanket’s journey. Over the years J has been stashing away his heaviest riffs for this project and he finally got the chance to head into the studio, backed once again by the original mysterious Heavy Blanket rhythm section. This time he also brought in his Witch bandmates Dave Sweetapple and Graham Clise for an extra dose of heavy.”
London Odense Ensemble – Jaiyede Sessions Vol. 2 (2023)
“The second instalment from London Odense Ensemble digs deeper into the group’s vision of what modern psychedelic jazz should sound like. Cut from the same sessions as Jaiyede Sessions vol. 1, released last summer, vol. 2 presents a more nuanced approach to the material. On this set the ensemble focuses on shorter, layered pieces – travelling from deep spiritual jazz grooves to gorgeous free-flowing minimalism to full-on acid jazz. There’s echo-drenched flutes being absorbed into layers of analog synth pads and guitars, bossa beats and double bass sequences merging with electronics. It’s an intoxicating mélange of sounds and styles, spanning wide temporal and geographical distances.”
Korb & EHAA – From the Mountains to the Oceans (2022)
“‘From the Mountains to the Oceans’ is the culmination of collaborative experimental transatlantic jams between Korb and El Hombre Al Agua. From minimal atmospheric ambience to all out psych rock the album combines a range of analogue synths, electric and acoustic guitars, organ, bass, drums and percussion to create cosmic journeys that evoke evolution and ancient landscapes, the alchemy of elements and timeless tectonics.”