Black Vinyl with Heavy Yellow Splatter (ltd 75 copies)
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
If you don't know Firefriend from somewhere along the last decade, you must cut a pretty safe course through music, avoiding the hypnotic power of the modern psychedelic movement. As one of the most prolific bands on the current landscape--"Yellow Spider" makes two albums and an EP on Little Cloud Records in just over a year--Firefriend would understandably be ready to take a break. But as "Yellow Spider" proves, the trio has no intention of slowing down and no need to even think of taking their foot off the gas.
"Surface to Air" opens "Yellow Spider"--their second full-length from Cardinal Fuzz / Little Cloud Records--in the heavy, slow-burn approach to psych we've come to expect from Firefriend, echoing the sound as their album "Sulfur" from earlier this year. But by the time the title track comes around, midway through the record, the slow-burn has been replaced with a more aggressive up-tempo backing to the fuzzed-out guitars that continues through the epic closer, "Shutdown Your Electronic Hallucinations."
Listening to Firefriend is like unwinding a long dream you thought you'd forgotten. It sounds familiar but you don't recognize it. Tracks like "Ultra-Violet Thing" and "Juxtaposed Parallax" may have a little bit of early Sonic Youth in them--or maybe not. "Yellow Spider" comes at you like a strange trip laced with fat-riffed classic rock--but the rhythms tell a different story. There's a slow sense of forward motion that winds through the songs, like a traveler on horseback entering town; like a cloud of dust swirling along the road; like a snake uncoiling and moving out of the shadows.
Includes unlimited streaming of Firefriend - Yellow Spider
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Oh how I long for this album in vinyl format! Such smoothness. Such warmth. Such execution. This music begs to be taken along and woven into memories. Everyone I’ve shared this album with has loved it. The music speaks far and wide. Shouting out to a fellow follower, Brian Lehmann, for his excellent taste in music. If not for him, I likely would have never stumbled upon this absolute gem! Plinchmo Larduktin
Never get tired of watching GNOD live. a ferocious blend of feedback, astonishing riffing, bleeding guitars and feedback so aggressive you have to take a step back. This great album is slightly more experimental though! jonezyboy
A reasonably old fan of the AMT lot, have listened to a lot of their albums over the years and seen them 2-3 times live. One of the greatest psychedelic bands I have had the pleasure to see live and meet too!
Anyway about this album, I love the remakings of dark star blues and blue velvet blues, the vocals work so well! IF you are into these guys highly recommend Ozric Tentacles as Ed's playing is on par with Makoto's (both very psychedelic). One of the best in the AMT catalogue in my opinion! atmosphere012
All proceeds from this hefty compilation of psych, surf, prog, and experimental bands will be donated to racial justice mutual aid funds. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 5, 2020
Gnarly punk rock from the Philadelphia duo is unhinged in the best way, an in-the-red sonic assault a la Motorhead/Stooges. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 9, 2024