Formed in Melbourne by brilliant percussionist Matt Blach, the quintet Beans are fast becoming one of Australia’s best loved neo-psychedelic bands. This, their third album, takes its name from beatboxing, but that’s as modern a reference as you will find here. It’s retro all the way. Blach has said that themes of introspection are important in this record. This is especially true of Haunted, which, despite its easy grooves, focusses on insecurity.
It’s an album which wears its influences openly on its (wizard) sleeves.Siamese Bloodstone has some early Deep Purple organ ; Kookaburra is a deep Summer Of Love instrumental, and Calling evokes Black Keys.
All of which is fine, and perfectly executed and produced, but there are other bands out there, such as Japanese Television, Lovely Eggs and Khruangbin, who breathe new, idiosyncratic life into psych/fuzz music. Beans feel more like a homage, rather than a development. But there’s much potential here.
Out on March 1st via Fuzz Club.
beansband.bandcamp.com/album/
Hit The North 