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THE REVIEW
The putrid and lysergic Texas has birthed The Black Angels, underground neopsychadelic artists capable of attracting the favor of an increasingly large and diverse audience. Perhaps because they were also able to evolve their psych rock from "Passover" (2006) to the oppressive darkness of the ghosts in "Directions To See A Ghost" (2008), before moving toward a more easy and "free" rock, yet always tied to a desert wasteland ("Phosphene Dream"). Three years after this last cry, the Austin group has returned to offer their audience, giving birth to their fourth studio album, "Indigo Meadow".
Setting aside for now the instrumental digressions of their first two works, the Texans throw themselves into a more direct rock. Still "robust" but less psych than "Passover," although the opening title track and the subsequent distortions of "Evil Things" contradict what was just stated. "Indigo Meadow" is a sort of fusion between the abrasive and uncompromising psychedelia of the first two works and the greater melodic openings of "Phosphene Dream". The splendid "Holland", one of the peaks of the CD, is proof of the symbiosis of these two "souls". It's not a coincidence that the tracks are shorter both in length and in those instrumental flights that so fascinated in the first two albums. A loss? No, since the Americans have managed to overturn the situation by focusing on a catchiness still congenial to their style and on well-crafted refrains. "You’re Mine" exemplifies with its almost irreverent rhythm a certain evolution that reaches its peak in the concluding "Black Isn’t Black", dark, fungoid, and psychedelic enough.
"Indigo Meadow" is an extrovert, variable album, not too anchored to the band's past. Christian Bland and his associates opted for a record less reflective, simpler in its "architectural" construction, but precisely for this reason, more personal.
A work that marries perfectly with the advent of summer.
1. "Indigo Meadow" (2:49)
2. "Evil Things" (3:45)
3. "Don’t Play With Guns" (3:43)
4. "Holland" (4:03)
5. "The Day" (2:37)
6. "Love Me Forever" (3:10)
7. "Always Maybe" (4:09)
8. "War On Holiday" (2:35)
9. "Broken Soldier" (3:36)
10. "I Hear Colors (Chromaesthesia)" (4:05)
11. "Twisted Light" (3:21)
12. "You’re Mine" (3:40)
13. "Black Isn’t Black" (4:22)
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Summary by Bot
The Black Angels' fourth studio album, Indigo Meadow, marks a notable evolution from their earlier dark psych sound towards a more melodic and accessible style. While retaining robust psychedelic elements, the album features shorter tracks and catchier refrains, balancing abrasiveness with musical openness. Highlights like ‘Holland’ showcase the fusion of their contrasting musical influences. Overall, Indigo Meadow delivers a fresh, personal, and extroverted record, perfect for summer listening.Tracklist Videos
The Black Angels
The Black Angels are an American psychedelic rock band from Austin, Texas, formed in 2004. Named after the Velvet Underground’s “The Black Angel’s Death Song,” the group—featuring Alex Maas, Christian Bland, and Stephanie Bailey among others—revived droning, 60s-indebted psych and helped found Austin Psych Fest (now Levitation).06 Reviews
