Kevin Linn does most of the work here in Sad Eyed Beatniks, though Mike Ramos (Tony Jay, Flowertown) and Karina Gill (Cindy, Flowertown) are along for assistance on key tracks. The resulting record, Ten Brocades, is full of dreamy indie-pop. There's a lot here that reveals some clear, cool influences, but the record congeals nicely on its own terms overall.
"It's Who Makes the Scene" smartly blends Dylan-ish delivery with warped waves of noise. That one is a stand-out, echoing Luna and JAMC and a bunch of other bands lots of us grew up on. Elsewhere, the title cut becomes a drone which has a nostalgic air about it. One imagines this could be a long-lost side from some acid rock outfit in the very late Sixties. The vocals, buried deep in the mix, conjure up a vibe that's not too far away from early Spacemen 3 and Telescopes records, though less beholden to feedback as a mood setter. Lighter instrumentation bolsters the chamber pop of "You Belong with Us", but I'd rather groove with the trippy melancholia of "The Broken Playwright Waits", a highlight here for me.
Fans of Tony Jay will likely find the same sort of twang-y joys here. Less dream-pop, and more skewed folk rock, Ten Brocades is definitely worth your time. It's a record to get lost in, or with, as the case may be.
Ten Brocades by Sad Eyed Beatniks is out today. Details via the Bandcamp link below.
[Photo: Karina Gill]