Arcadian Child - Protopsycho (Album Review)

Release date: October 09th 2020. Label: Ripple Music. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Protopsycho – Tracklisting

1.Snakecharm 05:33
2.Wave High 04:12
3.Sour Grapes 05:34
4.The Well 04:52
5.Bitter Tea 03:51
6.Bodies of Men 03:38
7.Raisin' Fire 05:34
8.Protopsycho 04:07

Members

Panagiotis I.G. - vocals, guitars
Stathis Had. - lead guitars
Andreas Kerveros - bass, backing vox
Constantinos Pavlides - drums and percussion

Review

Psych Stoner Rockers Arcadian Child are back with their new album Protopsycho and you can tell from that name the band have taken a slightly darker style of music whilst still offering their already blissful Psych Rock sound. This album sees the band lean more on their Eastern influences which resonates in both the vocals and grooves the band have laid down for this album.

The album moves along at a cool and brisk pace with the band playing many different styles of Psychedelic Rock with a truly worldwide appeal to it all. The Middle Eastern Psychedelic parts really make this album work and the subtle Stoner grooves are the icing on the cake if you’re looking for a more inventive style of Stoner Rock with a band willing to experiment for the sheer hell of it all

Standout songs on this album are: Snakecharm, Wave High, Sour Grapes, Raisin’ Fire and Protopsycho all showing the band’s strongest material to date.

Arcadian Child still embrace their love of 60’s Classic Rock, Hard Rock and Psychedelic Rock but as I said earlier in this review, this record is quite gloomy and dark compared to their previous releases. There is a lot of to take in on this record and it does require repeated listens to fully understand and appreciate the band have written for this album.

I would say this is Arcadian Child’s most grown-up and mature sounding record to date. There is something for everyone to enjoy and admire on this record. The riffs are plentiful and still leave you wanting more.

Protopsycho is an excellent and welcome addition to Arcadian Child’s already impressive back catalogue.

Words by Steve Howe

Protopsycho is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl now via Ripple Music.

Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Arcadian Child - Superfonica (Album Review)

Release date: November 23rd 2018. Label: Ripple Music/Rogue Wave Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Superfonica – Tracklisting

1.Bain Marie 04:31

2.Twist Your Spirit 04:55

3.Brothers 05:17

4.Constellations 04:03

5.Painting 06:44

6.She Flows 04:21

7.Before We Die 03:04

8.The March 05:08

Members

Panagiotis, Andreas, Stathis and Christos

Review

Greek Psychedelic Stoner Rockers Arcadian Child return with their second album Superfonica and their first for Ripple Music and Rogue Wave Records. After receiving high praise for their debut album released last year. Superfonica is a very different record with Arcadian Child playing a hazier and psychedelic album compared to their celebrated debut album. The album is way heavier with the band adding a more subtle Hard Rock groove.

Opening song – Bain Marie – has a gloomy and almost Occult Rock feel that wouldn’t go amiss from the recent Uncle Acid album – Wastelands. Arcadian Child start adding layers of Alternative Rock and Stoner Rock for a sound that keeps the listener entertained with the atmospheric vocals keeping the whole tone of the album grounded in reality. The instrumental work is played at a constant pace and offers a great insight on what to expect for the rest of the album.

Second song – Twist Your Spirit – is a mixture of Hard Rock and Psychedelic Stoner Rock with elements of classic garage rock that gives Arcadian Child an extra dimension to their sound. The album becomes more progressive with the spaced out vibes allowing the band more freedom to experiment with their sound. The vocals are soulful and matches the music superbly well. The song almost loses its way towards the end when Arcadian Child slow the mood right down. Though I admire their creative choices for the song. As the mood can be very peaceful with an almost gloomy ambient riff that I would love to hear more of on this song.

Third song – Brothers – is one of the standout songs on the album with Arcadian Child striking the almost perfect balance between Psychedelic Stoner Rock and other worldly trippy vibes. The song can be quite doomy with the fantastic lyrics having an addictive feel to them. The music is where the band impresses the most as they play a mixture of different musical styles that all combine for a spaced out journey. Black Sabbath and Uncle Acid feel like the most direct influences but Arcadian Child add a more Space Rock vibe to make this their own definitive sound.

Arcadian Child manage to continue their experimental musical journey on superb songs such as Constellations, Painting and She Knows being some of the standout songs on the second half of the album. Be prepared for more spaced out riffs that is matched by the exciting lyrics the band write through the entire album. Arcadian Child feel inspired by the sixties and seventies hard rock scene where the lyrics are concerned. As they’re genuinely OTT with a classic appeal to them.

As I’ve said before in this review, it’s the music where Arcadian Child impress the most. As Superfonica shows you why Arcadian Child have the potential to be one of the most creative and original bands from the highly respected Greek Stoner Rock scene. There is something magical within Arcadian Child’s music and that’s perhaps down to the new-found Psychedelic energy the band have included within this album.

You owe it to yourself to listen to Superfonica as it’s a beautifully made and highly addictive album that leaves you wanting more.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Richard at Sheltered Life PR and Arcadian Child for the promo. Superfonica is available to buy on Ripple Music and Rogue WaveRecords now.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Arcadian Child - New Video For Irresistible

Members

Panayiotis Georgio
Stathis Hadjicharalambous
Andreas Kerveros
Christos Dimou

The Lowdown

Psychedelic Greek Retro Rockers - Arcadian Child - have a new video out for Irresistible from their acclaimed new album Afterglow, which I reviewed here back in November 2017.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Arcadian Child - Afterglow (Album Review)

Release date: November 01^st 2017. Label: Various. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Afterglow - Tracklisting

1.She's On My Mind 02:56

2.Little Late For Love 04:16

3.Rabbit Hole 03:54

4.Electric Red 02:51

5.Irresistible 03:15

6.Run 04:54

7.Afterglow 03:39

8.Used 03:47

Members

Panayiotis Georgio

Stathis Hadjicharalambous

Andreas Kerveros

Christos Dimou

Review

Arcadian Child's debut album – Afterglow – is a weird sounding Psychedelic/Stoner/Hard Rock album with elements of Alternative Rock and Poppy sounds to make them stand out from the Psychedelic/Stoner Rock crowd. The band take influences from the legendary psychedelic sounds of the 60s and 70s but match it with a hard-rocking 90s alt-rock feel.

The opening few tracks – She's On My Mind, Little Late For Love and Rabbit Hole – offer delicious and dark twisted moments of 60s sounding Psychedelic Pop riffs but matched with a hard-edged Stoner Rock groove. The vocals are one of the main highlights of the album as they have elements of David Bowie running throughout them.

Second track – Little Late For Love – is a real pop-psych-stoner rock gem that many bands try their hands at these days. Some successful and some not successful. Though Arcadian Child is one the best examples I've heard in years. As they embrace a commercial pop/rock sound but still offer a more gloomy stoner based atmosphere.

Third track – Rabbit Hole – is another weird sounding musical oddity as the band create a dark and twisted love song. With heartfelt and painful lyrics that match the tender psychedelic sounds the band create here.

Other great songs to check out on the album are: Electric Red, Run, Afterglow and the excellent final song – Used. As Arcadian Child venture into more crazier psychedelic pop/stoner based sounds. This is a very hard album to describe but that's perhaps one of the strengths of this album. As it keeps you guessing which musical direction the band will turn to next. Maybe there could have been a few more songs on the album. As it feels too short and dare I say incomplete.

However Arcadian Child never outstay their welcome and their use of 60s/70s pop style progressive theatrics is bound to find a willing audience within the Psychedelic/Stoner Rock community. My final thoughts on Afterglow is that's a brilliantly entertaining and enchanting album that will hopefully find a bigger audience as possible.

Hopefully Arcadian Child's future albums will sound just as good as their debut album. Awesome stuff.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp