.

A Psych Tribute to the Doors- Telekrex- More

.
A Psych Tribute to the Doors
Various Artists

Cleopatra

Doors front man Jim Morrison was a fervent fan of LSD and his experimentation flavored much of the band's music, and this trippy tribute takes things one step further. Elephant Stone set the tone with an acid-drenched take on "L.A. Woman" that's full of probing guitar, sproinging sitar and vocals that float in from some netherworld while Dark Horses' version of "Hello, I Love You" begins in slow motion but picks up to the accustomed tempo by the time it sizzles to a brain-frying end. Camera perform "People Are Strange" as a U2-tinged instrumental, VietNam add lots of discordant effects to the loping "Roadhouse Blues" and Bulgarian singer Geri X sounds like mature Marianne Faithfull on her version of "Love Her Madly." Covers of Doors songs usually don't stand up to the originals but the 13 cuts here are all extremely well done and bound to please Doors fans as well as psych heads.

Telekrex
Leap

(Self released)

Telekrex plays synth-based psych, mashing up Depeche Mode-style pop with hip-hop-leaning beats and plenty of swooshes and whooshes, making tunes like "Portals Are Fun" perfect for the Molly-gobbling crowd whether they're at a rave or just chilling. "Rocket Ship Kids" percolates like mad and could easily be a dance club fave while the subdued title cut is custom made for the end of day, or more likely the end of buzz, whatever time that occurs.

Triptides/Frankie & the Witch Fingers/The See See/The Young Sinclairs
(4-way split single)
Stroll On

Here's a great sampler for psych fans: Triptides turn in the Byrds-meets-the-Doors "Shaman," Frankie & the Witch Fingers' "Revival" is a Nuggets-style garage/psych burner and the See See delve straight into Haight Ashbury with the Jefferson Airplane-channeling "Evil Clutch of Dawn." Those three cuts provide a nice '60s flashback but fourth cut "In This Room" by the Young Sinclairs is more modern, sounding almost like a lost REM cut.

Share this article

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it Share on Reddit email this article

tell a friend about this review

.