Ever since the resurgence of psychedelia in the indie zeitgeist, there’s been an annoyingly successful formula that has inundated the genre with lazy, pop-inflected tunes. A few dudes take some drugs, listen to psychedelic music, have some sort of internal epiphany, make some eerily similar music to what they just heard, do more drugs, become convinced they’ve created a transcendent work of art, and finally release their album to more dudes who do drugs and can therefore appreciate the mystic virtue of said album. The nature of style is often incestuous, so this formula isn’t unique to psychedelia, however it is exacerbated by the genre’s frequently low standards. This is a genuine shame, because with the freedom inherent to psychedelic music, there are real opportunities for forward-thinking, challenging expression.
This brings us to the new track from Dream Culture, a song which isn’t immediately challenging, but is borne out of a serious intentionality and a dedication to the ethos of prog. It’s organized and ordered without slipping into a comfortable pop song template, even as frontman and songwriter Evan Leima delivers occasional doses of chaos to punctuate the expanse. After last year’s single, the winding fever dream “Likuid,” the more direct “Thorns Have Roses” promises that the Athens band’s upcoming LP Heat Rises will be a wide-ranging affair. Even as Leima tries to address the interpersonal struggles of adulthood, most of the song’s energy is built on creative instrumentation that invokes Tame Impala and Spacemen 3. At its heart, however, “Thorns Have Roses” is a complex journey of the mind from a laid-back town where there’s plenty of time to think, and it’s this sly sense of adventurousness which keeps the track from devolving into a self-gratifying jam session (for dudes who do drugs). Do yourself a favor and give it a listen below.
Following a pair of well-received EPs, Dream Culture are finally preparing to release their first full length. Recorded at the Glow Recording Studio, Heat Rises is out May 25. Once again, the group tapped Atlanta native Mac Stewart for the vibrant album art, who’s designed covers for most of the band’s previous releases. You can check out the full tracklist and album art below.
Tracklist
01. (Hello) It Goes
02. Nosebleed
03. Likuid
04. Yes I Do
05. Order of the Day (Eudaimonia)
06. Confusion Sets In
07. Drown Out the Silence
08. My Very Own Vice
09. Bite Until It Bleeds
10. Thorns Have Roses
11. Unwound
12. Heat Rises
Dream Culture will perform on Sun., Apr. 8 at the World Famous in Athens alongside Poly Action and White Rabbit Collective. Doors open at 9 p.m. The group will also perform on Tue., Apr. 10 at 529 with Buckhead Shaman, The Holifields (Knoxville), and Safari Williams. Doors open at 9 p.m. Donations accepted at door. 21+ to enter.
More Info
Bandcamp: dreamculturemusic.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @dreamcultureofficial
Instagram: @dream_culture_
SoundCloud: @dreamculture
Twitter: @_dream_culture_