Regarding psych rock, I have heard some of the best bands ever. They seem to come primarily from every place except for America. I have seen amazing bands from Sweden, Finland, Germany, and Spain. For the first time, I’m hearing a band from Cape Cod, South Africa. Moskitos have put Cape Town on the map as a new, untapped hub for psychedelic rock with their stellar debut album Mirage (The Good Times Co.)
Mirage is a perfect storm of sensory psychedelic rock goodness that is damn near impossible to pin down. Kicking off with “Umbra,” Moskitos delivers a sparse, melancholic atmosphere piece that seems to channel a bit of a sparse Tool sound to it, and just when I thought I had them figured out, the song took a heavy turn towards the end that seemed to jar me a bit out of my induced trance. If you’ve ever experienced that feeling, you know it’s a feeling like none other, as it is both unsettling and exciting.
“Outta My Head” boasts a robust Captain Beyond influence, which I found pretty surprising. The vocals reminded me a bit of Captain Beyond vocalist Rod Evans, and the fuzz-laden guitar and the bouncy, shuffle rhythm create a kind of danceable track I could see being played in those old California hippie clubs of old.
Once again, Moskitos threw me for a loop, this time taking a hard turn into Magical Mystery Tour-era Beatles territory with the song “Woman.” The rich, dreamy vocals and a crunchy fuzz-laden rhythm bring a settling vibe, but that does not last long. I forgot that idea of being settled because when I least expected it, “Two Birds” sounded like a complete blow to the dome, reminding me of something I could hear from The Stooges or The MC5.
The showstopper for me is the closing track, “Nothing,” which embodies more of a shoegaze kind of vibe ala The Clientele. The song even pulls a bit from the Athens, GA, indie bands of old, such as REM, Love Tractor, and Pylon. It is such a fantastic song to close the album out with, but the problem was that it left me feeling like there needed to be more. It’s like when you’re watching a movie that ends, and in your mind, you’re thinking, “There’s gonna be a sequel.”
Mirage is an album that scratched a lot of itches for me. It’s the kind of album I wish I could hear more of, but maybe it wouldn’t be as memorable and exciting. Moskitos’ fuzz-laden guitar, solid backbeat rhythm, and clear, floaty vocals are sounds I’ve heard people try hard to pull off but fail miserably. This kind of ethereal and, at times, emotionally moving music isn’t something that can be faked. You either have it, or you don’t, and Moskitos is undoubtedly the real deal: heads up, Graveyard, Kadavar, and Blues Pills. There’s a new kid on the block, and that kid’s name is Moskitos.
Buy the album here:
https://linktr.ee/Moskitos
8 / 10
DON DE LEAUMONT
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