It's been a while since I premiered some good old psychedelic music and The Cosmic Dead definitely hit that mark. Infinite Peaks, their new album that drops tomorrow and which we are premiering here in full today, is another ambitious entry in the prolific Scottish band's discography. Like the rest of their releases, it is an unfurling and expansive work, two tracks that each span around the twenty minute mark and explore vast structures of feedback, reverb, ambience and groove. However, where other bands are satisfied with relying on that sheer mass to generate most of the appeal for their work, The Cosmic Dead are fiercely dedicated to interesting compositions and intricate arrangements which add a whole new layer to their psychedelic music. Head on down below to check it out!
Yes, this one will require a lot of patience from you but it's well worth it. Even from just the first few minutes of the first track, "Navigator #9", you can hear the interesting things that The Cosmic Dead are able to do around the track's main, ponderous riff. In the shallows of the feedback there swim layers of strings, extrapolations on the lead guitar lines, and many more sounds that turn the backdrop of the track into a living, writhing thing. As the album goes on, this rich soil churns and turns, bringing forth more and more musical innuendos and complexities. This means that the album, while still demanding as we alluded to above, is also intensely rewarding since there is a lot of musical richness and skill to absorb and appreciate.
Give this one some time and it will give you plenty in return and if you're a fan of this kind of psychedelic, expansive music, you'll struggle to find a better release than this one in 2024. As mentioned, the album drops in full tomorrow so you can head on over to Heavy Psych Records to order it or the band's Bandcamp here. Enjoy the trip.