Aura Blaze

Psychedelic music (the pop kind rather than the stoner/doom variety) predicates itself on the dichotomy between cynically observing a fundamental disconnect in how society operates and optimism that we can do better. The world is a circus full of wonders and terrors and when one looks with “the right kind of eyes”, one notices that this is all a laughable farce. The absurdities become whimsical melodies and the prevailing wisdom is that love and understanding beat the evil of the hateful.

That enigmatic story is told with great vigour on the latest release from New Jersey psychedelic outfit Aura Blaze. The Sparkling Black has a revival of a revival sound, a sonic heritage that began in the baroque pop era of the swingin' '60s and found a renaissance in '90s rock acts like Kula Shaker and the Dandy Warhols. Add in a dash of heavy modern Austin psych every now and again and you get the recipe for this sprawling concept album that focuses on a sun and moon dynamic.

The expositional introduction 'Overture: Solar Emerge' plays like a first act soliloquy with the narrator poised at a life transition. This chase for the “butterfly of love” runs from exuberant jaunty skip to swaying glam theatricality. Orchestral arrangements and quirky flourishes are introduced and will score the psych-tinged tracks to come. The lead single 'Good While it Lasted' is a light, yet wistfully nostalgic alternative hit that would climb high in the pop charts if this was 1997. Unfortunately, the charts don't have much desire for rock n roll these days. The track's bopping backbeat and bed of clouds backing vocals, along with the summer fling subject matter, feels like The Beach Boys reincarnated. Project mastermind Rhode Rachel's smooth mid-register croon is flanked by bouncy flute and xylophone and elevated by a warm 60s organ. All this is brilliantly woven together into an infectious rock gem.

To follow, 'Eyes of the Rising Sun' cranks up the psychedelia with a Morrison-esque monologue. Machine-like harmonized vocals and whirring effects verge take the trippy vibes into the 21st century. The media age manifesto “Manipulation' featuring Björn Strid of Soilwork stands as an album highlight. The recurring flute and xylophone theme of innocence is ripped open by heavy guitars. Like if KMFDM swapped out the industrial clang for orchestral whimsy. A steady relentless train to the end.

Further into the album on 'Hope it All Works Out', Rachel takes on an Elliot Smith style of earnest heart to heart expression about a breakup but where Smith gets lost in a well of self-loathing despair, Rachel takes the high road and acknowledges the divergence in paths as a necessary step and wishes his departed lover the best. It's thoroughly refreshing to hear such a sincere and adult approach to the end of a relationship. It doesn't need to be all doom and gloom. The grand jingling fanfare of the outro further reinforces this optimistic ode.

The title track descends back into full psychedelia with buzzing guitars and a haunting echo on Rachel's voice. The trippy interplay between piercing guitar lines and suitcase organ brings back memories of Manzerek and Krieger. The conclusory bookend 'Reprise: Lunar Dissolve' takes it all home with a surprising left turn to starry-eyed disco before returning the protagonist to his ever-elusive search for the “butterfly of love”.

The Sparkling Black is a fantastic album. Sewn together with recurring sonic themes and lyrical callbacks, rife with hits yet dipped in mystery and macabre. The mood is light and resolute and even when it gets dark, it's not depressing. Aura Blaze has created something special here. 4.5 Stars.