Today, Psych-Rock collective The Third Mind release “Spellbinder!” companion album to last year’s critically praised Right Now! It returns the band to the free-flowing improvisational spirit at the heart of the concept that first brought its members together: spontaneous musical conversation.
Purchase “Spellbinder!” here: https://thethirdmind.lnk.to/Spellbinder
“Spellbinder!” contains the vinyl debut of “Reap What You Sow,” as well as previously unreleased recordings. At the center of the album is the hypnotic instrumental title track “Spellbinder” inspired by the Hungarian Jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo, whose work has long influenced guitarist David Immerglück. “I’ve been a huge fan of Gabor Szabo my whole life,” Immerglück says. “When the idea came up to record “Spellbinder,” it felt like a no-brainer.” True to The Third Mind‘s adventurous spirit, Immerglück later added an unexpected sonic layer using the iKaossilator synth app on his iPhone. “I thought it needed one more element,” he laughs. “Laying it down while watching Dave and Victor’s bemused reactions gave me unending mischievous joy.” The result is a hypnotic, free-form piece that drifts between jazz, psychedelia, and ambient soundscape.
For Dave Alvin, the track captures the essence of what The Third Mind set out to be. “We wanted another instrumental, and an opportunity to flex our improvisational muscles,” he explains. “It was not so much about covering Gabor Szabo, but doing an improvised piece of music – that was always The Third Mind concept. “If anything, this recording is as close as we’ve gotten to the original concept of the group. Right Now! and 2 (the second album) are more song based, and the improvs are based on the songs. Spellbinder! is all based on improvisation.”
A few of the songs on this album, including the title track, “Spellbinder,” were mixed by Grammy-winning mixing engineer, Tchad Blake, of whom bassist Victor Krummenacher says: “Tchad is a master, and his mix brings a new dimension to these songs.”
Tracklist:
01. Spellbinder (Tchad Blake Mix) – 8:39
02. Reap What You Sow – 6:43
03. Before We Said Goodbye (with strings) – 5:44
04. Darkness, Darkness / The Creator Has A Master Plan (Tchad Blake Remix) – 14:50
The Third Mind On Tour — Purchase tickets here: https://www.thethirdmind.net/tour-datesMarch 12 – WOW Hall – Eugene, OR
March 13 – Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR
March 14 – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA
March 17 – Alpine – Reno, NV
March 18 – Mystic Theatre – Petaluma, CA
March 19 – Moe’s Alley – Santa Cruz, CA
March 20 – Harlow’s – Sacramento, Ca
March 21 – The Chapel – San Francisco, CA
March 24 – Belly Up – Solana Beach, CA