How about a stoner, psychedelic rock and metal-influenced band from Warsaw? Yes? Well you’re in luck because the curiously named Weedpecker are just that and they have a new album out called IV: The Stream Of Forgotten Thoughts. You can assume from this that it is indeed their fourth album and it continues the development of this original and engaging band, albeit with a change of lineup, as they now have a full-time keyboard player. (There’s no explanation for the name but, to my mind, it’s either a high powered strimmer with an interesting attachment or cannabis-based viagra…but I could be wrong.) The cover art only confounds: anthropomorphised hare, budgie and dog with a skeleton band, two hot air balloons, one brain and one heart-shaped float in the background…oh, and the hare has a sun rising out the top of its head! See what I mean?
As for the music, imagine a blend of Yes, Ash, Cream, Budgie and the Beatles… and that’s just the first track, ‘No Heartbeat Collective’. If that mix sounds strange, one listen to the lead track will convince you it works. The title track, ‘The Stream Of Forgotten Thoughts’ has more Beatle-esque vocals over shimmering layers of guitar. The brilliantly titled ‘Big Brain Monster’ is where their psyche moniker really comes alive on a very entertaining song with a 13th Floor Elevator kind of mind trip – a few listens un-peels the depth and skill of this band with some great instrumentation. ‘Endless Extensions of Good Vibrations’ doesn’t emulate the Beach Boys, but rather goes proggy psyche with varying weight and time signatures, obviously. The best, in my opinion, is saved until last as ‘Symbiotic Nova’ has great riffs, twin guitars and multi-layered harmonies that encapsulate the experimental bands of the late 60s but bring it bang up to date.
Well worth checking this one out if you like harmony drenched, guitar-led psyche…with bite.
IV: The Stream of Forgotten Thoughts is out now on Stickman Records.
