Believe it or not, there once was a specific genre of obscure regional music referred to as Texas Psyche. While overshadowed by country music and more recently, indie and garage, there has been a long tradition of psychedelic music in Austin running all the way back from 60s legends the 13th Floor Elevators right up unto its revivalists and current darlings, the Black Angels.
Phosphene Dream is the Angels’ latest and most ambitious album to date. The first one recorded outside of Austin, it marks a new direction for the band while staying true to their psychedelic roots. As the name itself suggests, the album is more fun and less dark than the previous records, but a trippy affair none-the-less. Infectious, poppy tunes like the single ‘Telephone’ share time with songs of haunting, killing and hallucinating. There is a definite Clinic influence bubbling its way up but the Angels’ signature droney guitars and reverb-heavy vocals are still the key players in the mix.
While I’ve followed the Black Angels since their debut EP, I began to see them pop up on the mainstream radar more and more as their powerfully moody songs started showing up in television shows like Fringe and Californication. Now they find themselves on the latest Twilight soundtrack during what I am told is “the most pivotal scene.” It seems that if you haven’t heard the Black Angels yet, you soon will.
The album is not only the first release from the Angels on their new label Blue Horizon but the first release the label has put out since reforming earlier this year. While the original Blue Horizon was responsible for discovering Fleetwood Mac, its current owners found success building the careers of acts like Madonna, the Pretenders and Blondie. Even though the band may be headed for the big leagues, this album is still them all the way. Even the design of the packaging bears the signature of Black Angels guitarist and co-vocalist Christian Bland.
The Black Angels will bring their droned-out Texas Psyche to Orlando’s The Social with co-headliners Black Mountain (also reviewed this issue) on October 13th. – JACK DIABLO
album review:The Black Angels-Phosphene Dream
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