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3 Responses to “Dins”

1. John L Murphy on October 14th, 2009 at 2:14 pm

   Not a false step taken on this second record and first full-length from these artsy neo-psych groovesters. I mean those terms in a good sense. I learned about this band from a NY Times blurb, but the paper made them sound like Velvets on brown acid. But the trip these Brooklynites take shows they learned to avoid bad vibes of the dimmer days of the Factory scene. Explosions in the Sky or Yume Bitsu fans would like this. I find this CD lighter, more propulsive, akin to Oneida, Surface of Eceon, Bardo Pond, Kinski or the lighter moments of Comets on Fire or even Acid Mothers Temple.

   In other words, more space-rock and compulsively repetitive than a doomier, dirge-heavy, gloomy writhe. It tends to soar on the even-numbered tracks and not quite lumber, for it moves, but in less dramatic, more introspective directions. Instruments take precedence, and this is a wise choice, as it gives center stage to the musical layers rather than a vocal posturing or lyrical posing. It enables you to enter more deeply into the tangles, striations, and mazes created with its intense, yet engagingly obsessive, sounds.

   The two styles, warm and hot, seamlessly join– congratulations to the producers and whoever mastered and sequenced this record. Holding together as a unified work, this is one solid recording that shows the potential of psychedelic rock continues into its fourth decade undiminished. This is smart music, but it wears its erudition with modesty. The band makes the tunes develop and unfold, and shifts attention away from themselves into the mental and spiritual realms they enter and draw us into after them. It runs smoothly and I will definitely be returning to this CD many times to come.
   Rating: 5 / 5

2. Wickerlove on October 14th, 2009 at 4:35 pm

   The Psychic Ills capture the spirit of late 60’s psychadelia and repackages it into a trippy multicoloured experience. ‘Dins’ is one of those albums that blurs the lines between spacerock, shoegazing, and psychadelia. Just think the mind expanding freak-outs of Spacemen 3 and Hawkwind meeting the neo-psychadelia of The Warlocks and trippier moments of The Dandy Warhols. Throw-in the dream pop of The Cocteau Twins and the experimental noodlings of Frank Zappa. ‘Dins’ is a trancelike cacaphony of sound and reverb, definitely one of the must hear releases of 2006. Tune in. Trip out.
   Rating: 4 / 5

3. Aquarius Records on October 14th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

   This is some great spacey rock! Something so confident and seamless about these songs and their delivery. There is this great ability to be spaced out and rock out all at once. Like they are channeling the legacy of Spacemen 3, Psychic Ills have made one of the most striking and satisfying guitar centered records of this young year. I love how they take from both the forefathers of psych as well as the seductive and slightly drugged out sounds of post-punk luminaries like Joy Division and Psycho Candy era Jesus & Mary Chain. The record has not one lull or weak moment. Songs flow right into each other. Whether they are swaying back and forth with a late night ease or turning up and blasting out bleached out melodies; they get it right with every twist and turn the record offers. I would love to see them tour with The Gris Gris as they both take a slightly different approach to psychedelic rock but share a level of excellence that’s pretty hard to come by. Highly recommended!
   Rating: 5 / 5

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