The Californian band Elf Freedom offers a blend of Psychedelia and Folk through long improvised tracks. The new album “Solstice” was released on October 11, 2024 and contains five tracks recorded live in the studio, all of them long except for a 1:40-minute outro. The album opens with the album’s longest track “Treasure Underground,” an epic over 10 minutes long, characterised by ethereal and dilated sounds. In a continuous musical crescendo, the band develops an improvised track steeped in Psychedelia, with guitar-keyboard-vocal interlacing. A lysergic journey that immediately immerses us in the album’s sounds, enhancing the band’s technique through the long instrumental sections to which an enveloping vocal is added. A prolonged electric guitar intro opens “Invisible Communication,” then developing into an enveloping track between Psychedelia and Blues traits. The guitar remains the protagonist with solo inserts that accompany us throughout the song, with the intensity increasing as the minutes go by. The use of effects and the modulation and layering of sounds is remarkable, creating acid and enveloping atmospheres. The rhythm section is slow but solid and elaborate, with a hypnotic, load-bearing bass line and drumming rich in tempo changes. “Whispering Light” connects to the previous one through the use of affects. A more experimental track, with an elaborate sound, extensive use of effects and modulations with complex passages and textures. A Psychedelia that incorporates improvisation and experimentation, creating an acid and very elaborate track that concludes with more classical riffs in the finale. Keyboards lead us to the following track “Our Souls The Same,” which returns to more classic psychedelic sounds, offered with the band’s personal touch. The interweaving of vocal parts with the guitar-keyboard work is interesting, with skilful modulations and a fine use of effects to create that enveloping, lysergic sound. The rhythm section is characterised by solid, elaborate drumming and a deep, load-bearing bass line, allowing the guitar and keyboards to develop intense instrumental sections. The title-track “Solstice” concludes the traclist with interweaving and layering of keyboards enhanced by effects. A short outro concludes this interesting listen. A good album, recorded live in the studio, which enhances the technique of the artists involved in the band. The improvisation explores classic psychedelic sounds, bringing them into a fresh and modern context thanks to the band’s personal and original touch. Long instrumental textures to which the vocal parts are interwoven, creating an enveloping sound full of interesting cues. A recommended listen for all lovers of classic Psychedelic Rock sounds, brought into a more modern context by the band.
Tracklist
01. Treasure Underground (10:24)
02. Invisible Communication (09:48)
03. Whispering Light (07:06)
04. Our Souls The Same (09:40)
05. Solstice (01:40)
Lineup
Nora Keyes / Lead Vocals, Vocal Mixing
Bee Appleseed / Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Bass Guitar (using A Little Thunder pickup), Guitar Organ, Midi Harmonica, Dub Siren, Percussion, Recording, Mixing
Rocco Mirage / Lead Guitar, Synth, Flutes, Percussion, Mixing, Mastering
Jacky Ryder / Drums, Percussion
Paul Kaufman / Rub Board, Space Harmonica
