Wellington's freakiest six-piece embody the notion of psychedelia on their sophomore album. There's an abundance of intricacies underneath deceptively simple, entrancing structures, but The View features nine tracks which are more song-like than their previous material. There's the cosmic, swampy voodoo sounds of Rapata and Mutant Musings, spinning out through urgently winding basslines, joyful organs, and some Phoenix Foundation-esque guitar tones. Ryan Prebble has an almost growling Tom Waits-ish vocal delivery on tracks like Mutant Musings, which is a great contrast to the slightly deeper, smoother vocals of Shanti Costar on Milk and Cookies. "I'll bake some cookies for you baby, it's just the thing to say what I'd like to say" is delivered with mischievous glee.
Stream Runs Dry is a dreamy, gothic, bluesy highlight with gorgeous vocals and a Johnny Cash attitude that shows they have emotional depth as well as top-notch musicianship, and Golden Sands has a spacey, groovy David Bowie air about it. The whole affair has a surreal quality, reminding at times of soundtracks to old cartoons. There's a western swagger to title track The View that is so visceral you can almost see Clint Eastwood about to emerge from a saloon. However while nine-minute epic You And Me In 3D is bound to be an excellent live wig-out, it doesn't have quite the same effect on the album.
Stars: 4/5
Verdict: Hypnotising cosmic blues trip
Buy Spartacus R's The View here.
-TimeOut
