Date Released: 30th September 2022. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Me And My BellBottom Blues: Tracklisting
Swineherd
Love Like Rubber
Black Sheep
Captain Frost
Quicksand Planet
Poor Girl
Sonic Flower
Members
Tatsu Mikami – Bass
Kazuhiro Asaeda – Vocals
Fumiya Hattori — Guitar
Toshiaki Umemura – Drums
Review
Me And My BellBottom Blues is the new album by Japanese Blues/Boogie/Classic Rockers Sonic Flower who are in supreme confident form by adding vibes of Doom Rock and Stoner Rock. Fans of Blue Cheer, Black Sabbath and Led Zepp will find this album a thrilling musical adventure with the band moving across the multitude of different rock flavours that covers the sounds of 70s Rock upto 90's Stoner Rock.
The album moves along at such a fast pace with the band adding a hazy and freaky Psychedelic sound which you can hear on the excellent opening song Swineherd. A song that captures classic hard rock excess with a Blues Rock swagger that moves from Blue Cheer and Black Sabbath grooves with elements of Fuzz Rock and extended Guitar Jams allowing Sonic Flower to perform some of their heaviest material to date.
Second song Love Like Rubber continues the classic hard rock journey with a powerful Blues Rock drive that brings a fresh take on the Boogie/Southern Rock sound. The vocals are bang on form with an almost "70's Outlaw" style of musical delivery. The funky psychedelic beats once again impress the most and the freaky Doom/Stoner Rock vibes show that Sonic Flower have a more heavier and thunderous sound for this album. The song has a high amount of extended guitar solos that flirts between Classic Hard Rock and modern day Doom/Stoner Rock.
Third song Black Sheep is more of a Funk/Blues Rock offering with Sonic Flower playing different styles of guitar solos that almost ends up becoming an impromptu jamming session. Once the vocals appear, then the song becomes a different thing altogether with the spiky lyrics and screeching Blues Rock sounds allowing this track becoming one of the standout tracks on the album.
Sonic Flower show their more adventurous side on the second half of the album bringing a more Progressive feel to the album with a few of the tracks running past the eight minutes to nine minutes mark. Songs such as Quicksand Planet, Poor Girl and Sonic Flower show a different and more daring side to the band. As the music becomes more grounded and real with the band still playing their sublime 70's inspired extended guitar jams and solos.
Poor Girl and Sonic Flower are perhaps the most exciting parts of the album with Sonic Flower having a free-flowing attitude with the creative choices they make for the album. The music is an inspired choice of Doom Rock, Stoner Rock and Psych Rock whilst still maintaining that Classic Rock energy the band are well known for. There’s also an understated Grunge vibe in these songs that are almost reminiscent of Soundgarden.
The album sounds super freaky with fabulous production values allowing this album being perhaps the best album they've released to date. Sonic Flower have continued their winning relationship with ace record label Heavy Psych Sounds. Another reason why this album sounds amazing from start to finish.
Me And My BellBottom Blues is an essential release for fans of the Hard Rock Underground Scene. Plain and Simple.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage for the promo.
Me And My BellBottom Blues will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from September 30th 2022.
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