WHO ARE THEY? Vancouver’s veteran psychedelic / progressive / space / stoner / boogie / indie-rock warriors featuring singer-guitarist Stephen McBean (who actually lives in Los Angeles now) and synth player/art guy Jeremy Schmidt.
WHAT IS THIS? Their fearless and full-bodied fifth album, slowly and informally crafted with the aid of assorted musicians after most of the duo’s bandmates fled the fold (though one has since returned).
WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE? In keeping with the circumstances behind its creation, it’s a loose, trippy and freewheel-burning journey through outer (and inner) space, toggling between shape-shifting epics and hypnotic riff-fuelled megajams. Weirdly enough, it’s also their shortest album, lasting just 43 minutes from stem to stern. Time really is a flat circle.
HOW SHOULD I LISTEN TO IT? While blasting down the highway at high speed in your muscle car — which seems fitting, since word is the 40-something McBean finally learned how to drive (as referenced in the pedal-to-the-metal lunacy of Licensed to Drive).
WHAT 10 WORDS DESCRIBE IT? Shaggy, epic, gnarly, boss, sludgy, lysergic, mind-expanding, freaky, fuzzy, otherworldly.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SONGS? Brutally heavy behemoths like Future Shade and Horns Rising will knock you upside the head — but weirder workouts like Closer to the Edge and Pretty Little Lazies will burrow into your brain.
WHAT WILL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THINK? ‘Are you high?’
HOW OFTEN WILL I LISTEN TO THIS? As often as you get high.
IF THIS ALBUM WERE A DESSERT, WHAT KIND OF DESSERT WOULD IT BE? Hash brownies.
SHOULD I BUY, STREAM OR STEAL? Nobody rides for free, baby.
