Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
And Now For The Whatchamacallit
What Reality?/Caroline
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets have unleashed their highly anticipated third album And Now For The Whatchamacallit, a frantic and uncontainable record full of heaviness and insanity. The record is sure of itself, fast-paced and completely cohesive. There’s not a moment that doesn’t feel expertly curated; though the band still maintain a crazed and imperfect aura, despite the seemingly carefully crafted pieces. Bill’s Mandolin is painfully catchy and unrelenting; the same can be said for album opener Keen For Kick Ons? and almost every other track.
There are a few Psychedelic Porn Crumpets pieces that are a repetitive slap in the face – an overwhelming hit of psychedelia and aggressive guitars, each pulling you in a different direction before colliding over and over again. This third album feels like a solidifying of sound, although it doesn’t veer too far away from precedent. A musical evolution can be heard, albeit a small one. There are moments where the excitement dips, most notably Native Tongue. It’s easy to fade in and out while listening to And Now For The Whatchamacallit, and occasionally it becomes difficult to tell songs apart from one another. It’s all one big song; one big moment that ebbs and flows, with no discernible beginning, end, or separation of pieces. It’s hard to say whether this is a positive or a negative, since Psychedelic Porn Crumpets have never subscribed to traditional songwriting, given their aim to polarise.
When In Rome has a crazed, seductive tone – riff driven and reminiscent of the 90s, 70s and a touch of the 60s all rolled into one – a highlight, along with Social Candy. These tracks are a reminder of Psychedelic Porn Crumpets’ musical capabilities as individuals. They show off – not too much – and continue to work together, a precarious balance to achieve. Interludes Fields, Woods, Time and Digital Hunger feel like something of a distraction – however, it’s clear from these moments that Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are free and their music is their own.
Momentum does waver, as if the rest of the record couldn’t keep up with the intensity that earlier tracks created. Fans of the Perth outfit will seldom be disappointed however, with the group taking what they’ve started and turning it up higher than is recommended, yet still pulling it off. The musicality is inspiring, taking ‘feel good’ music to another level altogether.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets’ third record is a major step forward, the promise of a band that knows exactly what they’re doing and how to do it.
CAITLIN NORRIS
