Texan psychedelic rockers The Black Angels return with their fourth album, Indigo Meadow. Not a great deal has changed since their previous album, Phosphene Dream, dropped in 2010 and although it’s safe to say the band has made a gradual shift from the heavier, droning march of their excellent debut album, Passover (2006), their grinding sound has not been compromised. With this latest album, the Black Angels have crafted a mature and refined collection of catchy tunes that finds one foot planted in the past and the other striding ahead into hazy, contemporary psych-rock terrain.
Their prominent influences, most notably The Doors and the Velvet Underground, continue to infiltrate their sound without dominating the band’s hypnotic modern take on psychedelic rock. And for the bulk of Indigo Meadow, the Black Angels continue to forge ahead with their consistent track record of cranking out dark and engaging rock music. It’s a quality effort that finds the band tinkering with their tried and true formula without taking any big risks to potentially alienate their fan-base.
The Black Angels’ familiar shadowy grind continues to bookend their overall sonic template but there is plenty of variety in the song-writing as well. The accomplished production job tightens up their textured sound, lending the material a vibrant buzz full of character to match the dark paranoia and varied shades of the compositions. Their trademark dark tones are offset with some subtle pop sensibilities that mostly work a treat.
While overall the meat of the band’s sound remains intact – from the buzzing tones and versatility of the guitar work, to the pulsating warmth of the rhythm section, and sinister atmospherics of the keyboards. And let’s not forget the unique warbly vocals of Alex Maas that are instantly definable yet admittedly an acquired taste. Occasionally the song-writing gets tripped up with repetition (especially some of the overdone choruses) but most of the 13 tracks hit the mark with the depth and hooks to keep you coming back for more.
The opening title track has a simmering intensity beneath dark, brooding vibes, hard-hitting drumming and some vintage sounding organ riffs. The sinister grooves and buzzsaw riffs of the superb ‘Evil Things’ keeps the early album momentum going strongly before the dark lyricism of the ultra-catchy ‘Don’t Play with Guns’ is counteracted by an oddly upbeat-sounding chorus. The restrained, trippy slant of ‘Holland’ dials back the tempo and rides a killer bassline as the vaguely mournful tone and downbeat vocals convey sincere, heartfelt emotion. After such a strong early surge the high quality dips here and there but generally the band maintains their rage for the album’s duration. The catchy swing of ‘Broken Soldier’ and the odd, stuttering rhythms of ‘Twisted Light’ are a couple of standout cuts during the musically interesting but less immediate second half.
Indigo Meadow stands as yet another top notch album from The Black Angels. Although it’s unlikely to change anyone’s pre-existing opinions about the band, it has all the familiar elements and song-writing chops fans have come to expect whilst containing the hooks and charms to reel in some new devotees to their rich psychedelic rock sound.
Blue Horizon Ventures
8/10
Reviewer: Luke Saunders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1r6Opx2OyY