by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Perhaps you’ve noticed in the years since the dissolution of Ex-Breathers that David Settle has remained inspiringly prolific, with excellent projects via Big Heet, The Fragiles, and Psychic Flowers (not to mention record bands for our absolute favorite podcast, Under The First Floor). He stays busy and the quality stays lofty, whether making sharp edged “egg punk” or jangly lo-fi, each project brings a different element from the his inspirations and taps into the essence of what makes it so influential in the first place. Following December’s debut from The Fragiles, Settle is back working on Psychic Flowers, set to release his latest album, Gloves To Grand Air, on March 13th via Living Lost Records. Recorded in his basement to an 8-track cassette recorder, the album is willing blown-out power-pop that balances lo-fi fuzz and tape hiss with inescapable melodies. It’s full of home recordings magic.
Lead single “Jumbled Numbers” takes a piercing Guided By Voices inspired guitar lead and works it into a swarming pop song, buried in distorted noise and cymbals that nearly swallow the mix whole. The song, a message to let your feelings fly free (“your emotions are not a crime”), is rattled by Settle’s static electricity guitar tone, each chord stinking its way in existence. It’s power-pop toughness reminding you that you don’t always need to be so tough, so go ahead, let it out. Psychic Flowers are writing songs that range from garage punk to slacker pop and Settle’s attention to sonic detail of the 8-track variety pushes everything delightfully into the red.