Shoegaze...With a hint of Motown tastiness

Last month we did a post on psych slackers Apteka. This month we've got something a little different. Chicago running mates Calm Palm Vapor are a 2-piece that are trying hard to buck any trend that the shoegaze label may put them into. By their own admission Calm Palm Vapour love their layers of sound and will utilise whatever is at hand in order to craft space-Motown.

Space-Motown?

Its certainly a high aspiration to have, harnessing a new sound and then creating your own genre. But props to them, as their album Morning Pacific is a polished effort. Throughout it you get snippets of Eno, Ride, Slowdive, Spacemen 3...but what is wanted is a recognition of the likes of Arethra Franklin. Seriously. And when you hear a track like 'Everyday We Grow', you get a feel for what these boys are driving back...maybe? Not really?

Regardless of whether you believe it or not, it cannot be denied that Calm Palm Vapour are offering a nice slice of shoegaze-riche, with a new ingredient thrown in. A tasty recipe.

Calm Palm Vapor - Everyday We Grow
Calm Palm Vapor - They Are Mine

Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree...Under Two Suns

You can tell that whilst there is a very eclectic, erratic and eccentric mix of musical influences, there are certain musical predilections that us here at Sonic Masala tend to harbour. One of those is inarguably that of psychedelic rock. Paul and I are just about shitting our pants waiting for the new Black Angels album, whilst I drench my shirt with sweat just thinking about the artwork for Black Mountain's upcoming newie. Sad but true.

Anyway, there is a small band from Chicago that Im a fan of, have been for a little while. Apteka havent put out much, but what they have has been pretty impressive - and loud. A mixture of Sabbath-slathered riffs and My Bloody Valentine-esque volume and reverb, Apteka have driven a spike into the asphalt and set about destroying it with a blunt chainsaw...

Actually thats a terrible analogy. Im tired. Its been a long day.

Suffice to stay, Apteka a re rocking, and very very loud. They have supported Band of Skulls and Spectrum recently - that tells you what you're getting.

Apteka - Traitors

Apteka - Indigenous