Turtle Skull are having a huge 2020.
We could harp on about Sydney psych outfit Turtle Skull ‘til the cows come home. Honestly, the cows are probably home now and we’re still going because these guys are easily one of the best psych bands getting around the country at the moment. You might have seen our premiere of their video for ‘Rabbit’ a month or so ago, but now they’re back with the second taste from Monoliths in the form of seven-minute dream-doom epic ‘Why Do You Ask’.
Dropping last Thursday, the video features the band playing in a prism of light created by longtime Turtle Skull collaborator Nathan Starchild. Ali Vann and Matt Toon produced and directed the clip, giving it the other-worldly polish that it deserves, with the psychedelic imagery building perfectly with the track’s peaks and trenches:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jciDUk2vfuI&feature=emb_title
To celebrate another slice of sweet, sweet ear candy from Turtle Skull, we caught up with guitarist/singer Dean McLeod to hear about five tracks that inspired ‘Why Do You Ask’ in our new segment Take 5. Check it below and head here to pre-order Monoliths:
Pond – ‘Giant Tortoise’
This is one of the best riffs around! It really got me vibing on heavy riffs with a pop kinda attitude. It also allowed me to realise no riff is too over the top. Such a nice mix of heavy riffs, psych jams, pop melodies… I also saw them play at Desert Daze in Joshua Tree in 2016 and that performance was one of the direct inspirations to start a new band when I got home. Blew my mind!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvZ9tEb67HE
Acid King – ‘Electric Machine’
Around the time WDYA was written I was listening to quite a lot of heavy music. But a lot of those heavy stoner songs aren’t really my jam coz of how YEEEEEAAAAR they are. I find the over testosterone energy and average songwriting a bit meh. But this one from Acid King strikes a perfect balance of super chunky stoner drone riffs with psychedelic soaring vocals. And Lori’s guitar sounds so good, oh man!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDO3xKVYje4
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – ‘I’m In Your Mind’
Anyone in this extended genre who says they haven’t been influenced somehow by King Gizz is lying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUvVhmOmXxw
NEU! – ‘Für Immer’
The track that turned me onto Kraut grooves. Non stop hypnotising chugging guitar with swelling dynamics and swirling phasers. Gets kinda heavy too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V85AjBFDmbI
Kikagaku Moyo – ‘Green Sugar’
This track is such a good example of what makes Kikagaku a great band. Lovely melodies, groovy basslines, hypnotic drums, and then a giant fuzz jam which almost sounds improvised at the end of the take!
