Deep diving into a stream of chlorophyll-induced psychedelic dreams, Strange Plants sends listeners into a euphoric trance with their debut self-titled album.
Formed by Matthew Brannon and Travis Flint, the indie psych-infused rock band hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia were previously part of the alt-country band Hot Monday. Together, the pair have developed and sustained a special sonic chemistry that blurs genre lines and simply makes for damn good music.
Following a string of singles leading up to the release, the 12-track record hits from the start, sweeping listeners onto a technicolor journey that Pink Floyd themselves could very well have dreamed up.
Opening the album is "Tell Me All Your Secrets Pt. 1," which sets the tone for the rest of the album, featuring warped guitars, chilling vocals, and a soft, pulsing beat that keeps the melody drifting into a lucid dream. The guitars dance with each other, talking and whining back and forth, hypnotizing listeners in the process. The vocals are simple yet strong, delivering emotions with quiet, haunting intensity.
The track continues into "Tell Me All Your Secrets Pt. 2," where the transition lends itself into a more upbeat 80s synth vibe, still featuring the same ethereal vocals and signature soaring guitars. Their swiftly evolving sound intensifies even further, becoming richer and more vibrant.
Another notable track and their March single, "Dance So Real," kicks off with a gritty yet melancholic guitar as the quiet, haunting vocals by Brannon have a subtle reminiscence to one Robert Plant if we dare say. When lyrics are present, they hit hard and deep, and even a few simple phrases can prompt listeners to ponder deeply as they drift along the kaleidoscope of sound, falling between the bends of reverb and the waves of the warped melody.
Hitting on a lighter note yet still rocking in their grounded roots, "When The Stars Fall" comes in with calm intensity. The lyrics are emotionally driven, with the resonating lyric: "I feel your love in the stars / Why are the stars falling?" These lines evoke a sense of absence and confusion as the listener tries to find some reassuring clarity through the unraveling. The tune itself is soft and fragile, like the beginning of a dream that you're trying to decipher. Is it real, or is it just something slipping between your fingers?
The band is proficient at leaving much up to interpretation and the imagination with their debut album, and other tracks like their May single "Lifeline" and final single, "Hot Tonight," showcase their sonic versatility as a unit.
Recorded in just over a week at Creative Workshop Studio With Robbie Crowell, Strange Plants' debut album delivers a vibrant energy for an array of indie rock-geared listeners. Both Brannon and and Flint aren't concerned with mainstream trends and currents, remaining strident in crafting their own unique works of pure self-expression.
Strange Plants delivers a fun and nostalgic sonic euphoria, and all with a name that captures their distinct charm.
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