Temples – Sun Structures (2014) review
Temples “Sun Structures” (Heavenly UK/Fat Possum US, 2014)
Every
current band who can be said to play
psychedelia shouldn’t get compared to Tame Impala; just as too many
guitar-oriented, literate-sounding small label acts from the early-to-mid 80s
were unfairly compared to R.E.M. That said, there’s just no getting around the
similarity between Temples and T.I.. Temples’ loopy, compressed sound is
clearly in the same vein as Tame Impala’s, and even more to the point, some of
the lead vocals on Sun Structures sound uncannily similar to Kevin Parker’s
warbling.
current band who can be said to play
psychedelia shouldn’t get compared to Tame Impala; just as too many
guitar-oriented, literate-sounding small label acts from the early-to-mid 80s
were unfairly compared to R.E.M. That said, there’s just no getting around the
similarity between Temples and T.I.. Temples’ loopy, compressed sound is
clearly in the same vein as Tame Impala’s, and even more to the point, some of
the lead vocals on Sun Structures sound uncannily similar to Kevin Parker’s
warbling.
Taken
unto itself, though, Sun Structures has a force and a space all its own. It’s
easy to see why the band has made such a mark for itself already, allowing them
to stand out among the hordes of current acts doing this kind of thing. The
sun-kissed, ringing guitars of the opener “Shelter Song” let you know where you
are within the first few chords. And from there it’s 50-plus minutes of loopy
psych that can fairly draw comparisons to any number of Rickenbacker-propelled
60s forefathers and soundalike contemporaries such as Jacco Gardner and
Melody’s Echo Chamber. There are some hummable melodies and bits of ace guitar
work at play and some inventive songwriting, but it’s just the overall sound
and feel of the album that causes it to delight. The dense layers of psych make
it a record that should be heard through earphones, by heads who like music
that tickles their cerebellum and makes them want to day-trip or lose
themselves in their own mind’s-eye visions.
unto itself, though, Sun Structures has a force and a space all its own. It’s
easy to see why the band has made such a mark for itself already, allowing them
to stand out among the hordes of current acts doing this kind of thing. The
sun-kissed, ringing guitars of the opener “Shelter Song” let you know where you
are within the first few chords. And from there it’s 50-plus minutes of loopy
psych that can fairly draw comparisons to any number of Rickenbacker-propelled
60s forefathers and soundalike contemporaries such as Jacco Gardner and
Melody’s Echo Chamber. There are some hummable melodies and bits of ace guitar
work at play and some inventive songwriting, but it’s just the overall sound
and feel of the album that causes it to delight. The dense layers of psych make
it a record that should be heard through earphones, by heads who like music
that tickles their cerebellum and makes them want to day-trip or lose
themselves in their own mind’s-eye visions.
Review made by Brian Greene/2014
© Copyright http://psychedelicbaby.blogspot.com/2014
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