FOLIO
by JACK DIABLO
It’s pretty clear where I Hope You’re a Doctor are heading, but I’m glad they’re going there and even happier that they acknowledge it with their album art. In the 3-CD bundle that comes hand-assembled by the Infintesmal crew, there are intentional nods to the 13th Floor Elevators and quite likely the Brian Jonestown Massacre. That ought to give you a pretty solid clue as to the distinctive brand of psychedelic, rootsy rock to be heard from IHYAD.
There are elements of everything you want to hear when you listen to music like this. Lou Reed, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, even a little Spiritualized bubble up every now and again on what they have done well to describe as a “surreal adventure.” It’s not a new story, but a variation of all the really good, old stories you never tire of. It is a continuation of a tradition that will continue to evolve as it maintains a timelessly consistent reminiscence of that wilder, freer time when psychedelic music was born.
Even the lo-fi recording is essential to the listening experience. While some early attempts could benefit from a more polished revisiting, the earlier recordings are perfect the way they are. Even the obvious tape clicks and inconsistencies in fidelity between a few of the tracks are forgivable for the sense of nostalgia they impart upon the songs themselves.
The bundle contains three discs recorded over the past two years including Dead Body, Pete Rose and Flashbacks From the Future. What it amounts to are previously unreleased gems finally finding an audience that will surely be able to appreciate them. These albums document the perceivable sonic evolution of a band that is part of a strong tradition of American psychedelic music, a tradition that seems to be taking root in the most unlikely of places: right here in Jacksonville. –
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