New Aura is one of the latest and most exciting psychedelic rock bands to emerge out of the same fertile Bostonian grounds that had once spawned lysergic legends such as Ultimate Spinach, Abunai! and Beacon Street Union.
The group’s self-titled EP features six tightly packed acid rock nuggets that are as cold and sleek as a switchblade. Each track shimmers with layers of reverb-saturated vocals, bleak surf guitars and hypnotic rhythms while an undercurrent tone of darkness broods just below the surface. This combination of sounds and moods brings to mind the likes of The Rain Parade, Holy Wave and The UFO Club.
The EP is bursting with highlights, like the hauntingly jangly “Something New,” the backwards-guitar rich “Déjà Vu” and the instant classic that is “Nick Cage” (I mean, it’s a psych-rocker about Nicolas Cage. What is not to love??) However, it’s the closer that really seals the deal for me.
The climatic “Mantra” is a mind-boiling, acid beach-goth instrumental freak-out jam that would make Barry Melton and Pete Kember proud. I imagine that this already killer piece could be absolutely explosive live and possibly stretching out an additional 10-20 minutes. This is a song that you’re going to want to crank way, way up (and often).
For a debut, this is a very strong record. The band comes off as far more professional and experienced than their age would leave you to believe. They play both freely and with an amazing amount of restraint, especially by leaving every song under three minutes (and squeezing them all into a single seven-inch!) Keep an eye on New Aura, I’m sure even greater things are in store…
New Aura can be purchased on vinyl, tape and digitally via their Bandcamp page.
-KH
Record Crates United 