As the pandemic raged and live music opportunities closed, the members of Arson Whales (AW) found each other at the perfect time. Since founding in 2021, the group has honed their sound, falling somewhere on the spectrum between psychedelic rock, nu-disco, and good-old-fashioned indie rock. As time has passed, the band has made more music together – they’ve found a sweet-spot, a soft blend of sounds that work well together while making use of singer Linda Brancato’s wonderfully raspy voice.
They’re gearing up to release their latest album, the eleven-song LP Galactopus, due out July 7th with pre-orders hitting on June 30th. This is AW’s first full-length and they’ve packed it full of mind-altering psychedelic flavors while never losing sight of the importance of tasty melodies.
Album highlight and live staple “Zephyr & Sycophant” is an upbeat, nu-disco flavored song with a psychedelic touch that perfectly scratches a brain itch that you didn’t know was there. Dancy drum beats and stabs of guitars power this one forward, bringing to mind the late aughts era of MGMT with hints of Tame Impala. As soon as the vocals hit, it’s a thunder strike that hits your soul making you want to jump around and scream every word. The pulsating vibrations of the bass guitar effortlessly weave through the stabby composition, creating an irresistible groove that permeates throughout every note. You can preview a live version of “Zephyr & Sycophant” via the YouTube embed below – get ready for a super in-the-pocket performance of Arson Whales operating as a quartet.
Another album highlight is track two, “Upside Down.” A bit more of a laid-back tune, “Upside Down” makes use of palm-muted guitar energy and drippy melodies to hook the listener in. When the chorus ends and picks back up, the band does a perfect job of blending each instrument along with the wiry sonics in the background. If you close your eyes and listen to it, you’ll just want to endlessly bop your head and vibe with it – a true measure of Arson Whales’ success as songwriters.
There’s lots to dive into on Galactopus – some of our other favorites include “Finding Betsy Dar” with its easy-going, summery feel… The perfect listen for savoring the mid-summer months. There’s also the deep groove found in track four, “Reverse The Rule.” As it devolves into ba-ba-bas toward the end of the song, you’ll realize how easily you got lost in it’s all-encompassing chillness. Fans of more experimental sounds will enjoy album opener “Monkey Jar” or album closer “Blackhole” which find the band exploring their sonic capabilities with unique sounds and strong synth presence.
Enjoy “Zephyr & Sycophant” below via the widget below. Don’t forget to check it out when it drops July 7th (and if you like what you hear, preorder it on June 30th).