ninehertz

Crash Program opens proceedings, a nice mixture of space rock and arty indie psych, carrying through on the breeze. The arrival of vocals increase the tempo, pushing it almost into stoner rock realms, different from the opening minute but merely a change in the shade of cool. Yep, here's yet another awesome band from Montreal. There probably isn't another city or scene we've seemingly talked about, featured or seen live this year, with a strong psychedelic connection between all.

Technicolor Blood offer their own variance too, pulling from styles both common bedfellows to the psych we're used to, and the more unexpected. There's King which is almost in post-punk worlds, like it could be from Manchester or Liverpool in the late 70s and early 80s, or Mischief of Rats' indie pop spiky sass.

The latter is telling, it's diverted into arenas not of my usual liking, but it's not a distraction, merely offering distinction from the crowds. As example, Planet Square begins with a Riot Season Records style heavy psych lean, combined with an excellent rocking chorus riff - there's a whole palette of psych sounds here, stretched as wide as that genre term is used, and that makes for a really interesting listen. Collapse City can be imagined as Raw Power as played by Dead Meadow.

From first play to most recent, I was aware and present to the facts Technicolor Blood have regular elements I'd normally be put off by, but equally how it did not take away from my enjoyment. Take the ever present bold production, often a detriment to hazy psych auras, but not a hinderance on Evolution Now. It is bold because the band are bold, going where they feel, and it makes for a cool album.