A little over a week ago, The Electric Lion Sound Wave Experiment released a new EP entitled "Seraphic Hymns" through Loco Gnosis.
The EP opens with psychedelic crawler "Vote @ 711". At just under 6 minutes, frontman Rabeah's delayed and distorted guitar solos and Hussian's organ/sound fx create a sonic architecture that just keeps building and building, blurring the lines between the two. Here's a live clip:
The second song on the EP is "Giraffe". It's a quick ditty that recalls the structure of many songs off of the Michigan Nuggets Compilation. Basically you take a simple melody, repeat it for 4 measures,just keep layering and building on top of it, and throw in a chorus every once in awhile. Take that and add a dash of ELSWE's psychedelia and you get a hybrid tune that is both throwback and consistent.
"Seraphic Hymns" closes with "Kamadeva Crying", which has a definite sprawling, country feel. Backup vocalist and newest addition to the band, Amy, takes the reigns and is the lead on this song. Her singing and lyrics revolve around a rhythmic chant that borders on beat poetics. When you least expect it, "Kamadeva Crying" changes keys from a brooding yarn to a swaying, almost surfy beach tune. This is by far my favorite track off the new EP. It is the most exploratory and experimental.
I highly, highly recommend "Seraphic Hymns". According to a conversation with Rabeah, the EP is the first batch of recordings from a new follow up LP to their 1st album "Part 1". I love the new direction the band is headed. Whereas "Part 1" was more Brian Jonestown/King Khan/Old Dandy Warhols, "Seraphic Hymns" solidified their definition as a Detroit Psychedelic Juggernaut. It's nice to see what's grown out of a finely crafted touring set has transferred so nicely to record. Look for a widespread physical release later this fall. Currently you can pick up the new EP at any ELSWE show.
The EP opens with psychedelic crawler "Vote @ 711". At just under 6 minutes, frontman Rabeah's delayed and distorted guitar solos and Hussian's organ/sound fx create a sonic architecture that just keeps building and building, blurring the lines between the two. Here's a live clip:
The second song on the EP is "Giraffe". It's a quick ditty that recalls the structure of many songs off of the Michigan Nuggets Compilation. Basically you take a simple melody, repeat it for 4 measures,just keep layering and building on top of it, and throw in a chorus every once in awhile. Take that and add a dash of ELSWE's psychedelia and you get a hybrid tune that is both throwback and consistent.
"Seraphic Hymns" closes with "Kamadeva Crying", which has a definite sprawling, country feel. Backup vocalist and newest addition to the band, Amy, takes the reigns and is the lead on this song. Her singing and lyrics revolve around a rhythmic chant that borders on beat poetics. When you least expect it, "Kamadeva Crying" changes keys from a brooding yarn to a swaying, almost surfy beach tune. This is by far my favorite track off the new EP. It is the most exploratory and experimental.
I highly, highly recommend "Seraphic Hymns". According to a conversation with Rabeah, the EP is the first batch of recordings from a new follow up LP to their 1st album "Part 1". I love the new direction the band is headed. Whereas "Part 1" was more Brian Jonestown/King Khan/Old Dandy Warhols, "Seraphic Hymns" solidified their definition as a Detroit Psychedelic Juggernaut. It's nice to see what's grown out of a finely crafted touring set has transferred so nicely to record. Look for a widespread physical release later this fall. Currently you can pick up the new EP at any ELSWE show.
-jr is a musician/dj/blogger/writer from Detroit, MI. He performs in the bands The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre and Sheefy Mcfly & The Delorean. He also writes a cultural blog covering the ins and outs of the Detroit Music Scence as well as pop culture. When Dj'ing he uses the handle DJ JCM. He has been an integral part of the Detroit Music mechanation for the past 10 years. He knows just about everything about music on both a local and national level. His opinon is gold and is infallible. This is what's been in my ear lately.