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Hey, hey, hey Sorry Staters! It’s been a while. How is everyone? That’s a loaded question considering all that is happening around the world. We sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are happy and safe. It’s a scary time, especially if you live in certain places where you may be fighting for your very life. It makes talking about anything less seem trivial, but if history has taught us anything it’s that the arts are the last bastions of free speech and that great creative things can come out of adversity. Art, music, and culture are the things that will keep us sane and moving forward so that together we can escape this dystopian nightmare.
Traditionally the summer slows down as far as new music releases go, but that doesn’t mean that new records haven’t been coming into Sorry State these past few weeks. There have been plenty. Jump on over to our webstore for a quick glance at some of the latest new arrivals. In our physical downtown Raleigh store, the quality used records supply hasn’t been turned off either. We’re always hunting for fresh vinyl and welcome locals and those further afield to contact us if they are interested in selling their records. We always get the best killer shit from our customers, so don’t forget, if you are feeling the need to purge your collection a little, get in touch with us and we’ll help to pass on your music to new ears and put a ‘lil dough in your skyrockets at the same time.
On that topic, one of our customers stopped by recently and sold us some nice records, including some killer jazz heat. The man had good taste. After we had concluded our deal, he casually mentioned that he was a musician and had a record that he would love to see in as many stores as possible. Our “policy” at SSR is to always try to take a copy or two of touring bands’ record if they pop in the shop or to stock a local band’s record. Within reason, of course. If it’s totally out of our wheelhouse, then maybe not, but we try to support as much as possible. Anyway, he left us three copies of his record and I said we’d get it on the floor for folks to see. He described it as Psychedelic, which got my attention, and I made a note to give it a listen when I could. I’m sure I don’t have to tell anyone who has worked in music and especially stores, all about the ton of promos you receive from new artists and bands and how many calls and solicitations you get for records that you have never heard of. It can tend to make you a little bit jaded. I always try to give everything a fair chance. I’ve been introduced to a lot of great bands and artists from their first promo or self-released record. My ears have always been reliable to me over the years, and I tend to be able to tell when something is good. That all being said, this fellow’s record is very good in my opinion and it’s going to be my pick for this week.
Faun Tempol: La Oprika – 2024
The band, as far as I can tell, is two blokes, Carter Gaj and Thomas Simpson, and they are based here in North Carolina. I’m not sure whether they are locals or transplants like me. Anyway, it’s good to shine a light on local talent. The album is presented as four sides of listening and although not expressed anywhere as far as I can tell, they do sort of represent four slightly different suites of music. It’s modern psychedelic music taking in several generations of bands and artists that have trodden the psych path before them. There are dips into exotica, world music, soul and jazz all intertwined within the songs but without overtaking anything. This is still a record with guitars and drums and songs that “bands” could play. It’s not all about texture and mood, although there is plenty of that, there are some cool poppy tunes and some more rocking moments here.
The opening track sets the mood and pace with a ten plus minute epic entitled Acting Like A Child that fans of Temples, Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala and other 00s psych bands would appreciate. That track slips into an avant-garde like tape loop and electronic track which gently eases next to an acoustic guitar strumming and an effects laden intro vocal before the full band sound kicks in and ends the first side with a song called Fools Count that features some nice lead guitar.
Side two begins with one of my favorite songs on the record, a catchy ditty called Sleeping Couch. Slightly reminiscent of the psych-pop sounds that Welsh bands were making in the 90s. Stand up Super Furry Animals and Gorky’s. This is a real earworm track and I enjoy it more with each subsequent listen. Following track Soup Du Jour has some nice keyboard/mellotron stuff going on over a Can inspired drum beat. Good song. The side ends with a funky guitar groove instrumental track titled Fukuyama 5, that again features some tasty lead guitar licks.
Side three opener, Hermit Song, gets into the world music inspiration with what sounds like aboriginal chants and digeridoos playing. Or something like that. Amor Fatigue continues the record and it’s another fine pop song, embellished with sound effects, like a whole bunch of clocks on the outro. The third side concludes with a song called Vines. Dreamy vocals float along on top of a gentle groove which made me think of 60s sunshine pop groups produced by Curt Boettcher, like Sagittarius and Millennium. Albeit through a modern lens. I’d say that if these psych-pop groups are your bag then you will most likely dig this album.
Lastly, we flip the record to the final side. It begins with another funky guitar groove track called Cheesies On The Board, that could have been stolen from a Sly And The Family Stone recording session outtake. This song nicely segues into next song, Materia Prima, a beautiful South American flavored love song lament. The journey is closed out by one final instrumental called Death Clop, which sort of reprises a little bit of everything we just heard. And there it is. Album finished.
I enjoyed the trip and will say that each repeated listen has brought out new sounds and tones that I missed previously. It’s well recorded and sounds good. All key ingredients for a decent record. I believe the lads in Faun Tempol pulled it off, and I recommend psych-pop fans to go check this one out. We have a copy still here at the store and I’ll investigate getting some more copies if it looks like y’all are interested. Big up to Carter for trading some cool shit with us and stopping by to introduce me to his record. I love it when stuff like that happens, and I discover a record that I may never have found otherwise.
Okay, back to work. What to play after listening to La Oprika? How about the 1968 UK psych classic from the group July? Yeah, that sounds about right. See you all around these parts next time.
-Dom