I can’t remember a year when rock music has been having such a stellar year in its more psychedelic reaches. We have already been utterly spoiled by acts new and old as they show us what excellence can still be had in such a sound even after so long with there surely plenty more for us to explore. While the big names have certainly dominated the focus for all the right reasons, there are always a good number of lesser-known acts working their own kind of magic in the background. As one of the many, Spacedrifter has most certainly put their best foot forward to make that simple truth all the sweeter.
While I will always love psychedelia for being able to take the listener into completely different worlds in alien planes of existence, there is always something to be said for the craziness taking a backseat to allow for a much more grounded approach that is able to deliver the same flavors even if it comes in a somewhat different package. Infusing all that hard-to-capture colorful madness with a strong stoner sense alongside an approach that can only be likened to some real tasteful grunge, Spacedrifter does a tremendous job in their first full-length album, “When the Colors Fade”, to show us how just such a tricky concoction can be done with real finesse and splendor. Ten tracks that are simply overflowing with personality and passion the likes of which can only be brought about in this particular corner of psychedelics, Spacedrifter has certifiably hit the nail right on the head with this album even if there are moments of clunkiness that leave more than enough room for improvement. Even so, the overarching experience of “When the Colors Fade” is a garage odyssey through the colorful haze that I think many people are looking for. Always remembering to include a good chunk of trippiness without becoming lost in its glory and thus forgetting a decent level of crunch and down-to-earth songwriting with the very sun on their backs, “When the Colors Fade” is a real treat to the senses.
Spacedrifter was a name that few had heard of before this record, but it is now with this piece that the name deserves to be heard the world over should it continue down the path that this album has thrown down. Armed with loads of personality and more than enough flavors to engage the listener at every possible turn, “When the Colors Fade” is a surprise that we need more of in our lives.
LISTEN to “When the Colors Fade” on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Spacedrifter on Facebook here.
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