Sunday 31 October 2021

Plaindrifter - Echo Therapy (Album Review)

Release Date: October 24th 2021. Record Label: Self Released. Format: Cassette/DD/Vinyl

Echo Therapy - Tracklisting


1.M.N.S.N. 05:37

2.New World 07:46

3.Proto Surfer Boy 08:13

4.Prisma 12:10

5.Digital Dreamcatcher 08:49


Members


Nils ‘Schnils’ Stecker

Marcel 'Uwe' Kloß

André 'Andi' Tinibel


Review


Plaindrifter debut album Echo Therapy is a mixture of Prog Rock, Desert Rock, Stoner Rock and Psych Rock with the album offering the perfect balance of Weedpecker and ELDER trippy Psychedelic Rock with the Desert/Fuzz Rock brilliance of the mighty Truckfighters. THe album has a heavy Prog Rock presence but mostly the Psychedelic Stoner Rock grooves is what make this truly standout.


THe swirling Psychedelic almost veer into Space Rock surrounding before Plaindrifter pull the atmosphere to a more worldly Desert Rock platform. The songs are all beautifully written with crisp vocals that give the songs a more emotional connection.


Opening song M.N.S.N. feels like the best song that Weedpecker have never written but with a more Spaced Out Desert Rock sound allowing Plaindrifter to be judged by their own creative merits. There’s a lot of heavy Prog Rock/Fuzz Rock moments that keep everything flowing with a very cool and warm attitude that makes you feel closer to the music.


The album continues with the hybrid Fuzz/Desert/Stoner Rock sound with Plaindrifter bringing a more cinematic style of Prog Rock that you can easily compare to King Buffalo at times especially on songs such as New World and Proto Surfer Boy. 


The standout tracks on the album are Proto Surer Boy, Prisma and Digital Dreamcatcher which make up the final three songs on the record. This is where Plaindrifter made me a fan of their creative vision they have captured for this album. Heavy Psychedelic Stoner Rock that has an adventurous sense of wonder. Add the Prog Rock tendencies that the album is fully built upon then you have a superbly wise and brilliantly entertaining debut album.


The instrumental work is varied and interesting from start to finish that offers the right balance for fans of the Psych Rock, Desert Rock and Stoner Rock scenes to warmly embrace. Production values are first rate with the band being allowed every opportunity to play some dynamite music along the way. 


These guys maybe “undiscovered” now but they have every possibility to make a huge name for themselves if they continue to make great records such as this in the future.


Echo Therapy is music for the mind, body and soul. Check out now.


Words by Steve Howe


Echo Therapy is available to buy now digitally. Cassette Tape will be released soon with Vinyl Release following in April 2022.


Links


Facebook | BandCamp