New Psych Discoveries: Smoking Trees and Sir Psych

If you like Tame Impala (and, really, who doesn't?), I'd encourage you to go check out The Smoking Trees and affiliated act Sir Psych. The Smoking Trees, near as I can tell, consist of Martin Nunez - who I believe is Sir Psych, and Al Rivera - L.A. AL. The Smoking Trees is referred to as a duo. I expect the identities will become more clear, because I expect to hear more from these two in the days ahead.

This stuff is a lot of fun - lovingly put together with all kinds of psychedelic effects. There are delays, overdubs, washed-out guitar sounds and plenty of reverb.

The title track to The Smoking Trees' album Acetates is a perfect way to sample their sounds, and it even contains a short "intermission". Most of all, it contains some terrific guitar work:

Another track - "See" -  lots of reverb on the vocals, chaotic drumming and some wild guitar work:

As for the Sir Psych album, The Popsike World of Sir Psych, it's a wilder affair - more effects, less guitar, but no less enjoyable. It's structured as a sort of tour of '60's "Swinging L.A." - and the conceit works pretty well... but of course, it wouldn't if the music wasn't so good.

Here's a video for "Every Colour I Know":

And here's "In A Popsike World":

The album contains 18 "base" songs and another 16 alternate versions and previously unreleased song including alternative versions of some of the Smoking Trees songs.

This is a tremendous achievement for two guys... It's derivative, yes, but derivative of some great, great stuff.

Sir Psych Website

Sir Psych Facebook