(April 2025) Episode 646 is the VIOLET MINDFIELD, a contemporary Southern California-based retro-psychedelic band. While their stated intention is to recreate 60s psychedelic and garage band sounds, what I hear is a call back to acts of previous retro generations, such as Olivia Tremor Control and Oh Sees. There’s a fine line between reverent homage and derivative mimicry, which they straddle. Their most recent album, California Burning, appears to be original songs based on classic 60s riffs (not unlike what the Rutles did).
Favorite album: The Forgotten Streetlamps of Time
Favorite song: Autonomous Overdrive
Compared to expectations: same
Recommendation: It’s an interesting listen if you like 60s psychedelic and garage music.
Opus Project 