Sunflower Bean - Human Ceremony (Fat Possum Records) 2016
7
Human Ceremony is a strange album. A uniquely throwback sound, that seems etched in sixties psych-rock origins, dragging out vocals that grasp at influences as diverse as The Beatles, Bowie and Jefferson Airplane. It is a breezy, feather-light collection of songs. Delicate and fragile melody twinned with drums that are pushing and driving, but subdued all the same. When some oomph is added like in the second track “Come On”, it still has a gentle beauty, never falling off into full rock (coming close in “Wall Watcher”) but teetering gently upon the precipice. A hippie with a flower in the barrel of a gun. A delicious album with elegant style and a fresh pulse. Maybe not for everyone, but given a good listen, plenty to stir the bones.