Basmati - nectar

Basmati 

Nectar
Subterranea; 2013

3.9 out of 5

By Sean Dennison

Nectar is syrupy-thick tribal-like psychedelic rock EP from Basmati. It's got the sleepy headed feel of a bunch of talented teenage musicians improvising mellow ballads but it has the magnetic pull of veterans. Louis Henniger (drums), Seaton Kerby (bass) and Brandon Graig (vocals, guitar, samples/keyboards)  are Basmati and the Luddites behind this. The trio uses the wall-of-sound technique effectively, sounding not unlike My Bloody Valentine at certain parts of the EP. 

The album kicks off  with "30 Spokes Join Together in The Hub" which is a brilliant song that has infectious yet original vocal melodies that are backed by even more original music. The singer repeats the line "If I hurt you, I didn't mean to"  that quickly becomes  your favorite part of the song. The song only gets better as it progresses as they seem content  not to revisit any of there  previous parts in the song. "Nala 1 (Whatever you need)" combines the pop sensibility of a band like Animal Collective (think Merriweather Post Pavilion era) with the guitar work  of a band like Sonic Youth. White noise and distortion prevail as a rather simplistic pop song hides underneath. The EP closes with "Eyes Peeled (Dope Sliz Mix)  which only reinforces that these guys have a knack for creating fun, experimental, pop music.

Delay effects are the main ingredients in this stew. Each song sounds tough and dreamy. The guitar creeps along like a ghostly spider, the chiseled bass carving its path while the measured drum beats produce small but immensely pleasing rhythms. Besides the last track each song has a distinctly welcoming feel, a party invitation from another dimension just this side of strange.

There are shades of Animal Collective here, especially with vocalist Brandon Graig on parallel with Panda Bear or Avery Tare or whoever sings in that band. You know, the one. The music also produces the same sort of drugged out euphoria-inducing bands like Sic Alps produce. Much more gentle though, and it actually lingers with you a bit longer. They get a bit like Sonic Youth with their noise every now and then, and I'm totally down with that. It will take you less than 15 minutes to listen to these four songs and you'll be a better person for doing it.

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