New Zealand psych-pop greats The Phoenix Foundation have just released the opening track off their sixth album, Give Up Your Dreams. “Mountain” follows the tradition of last year’s “Bob Lennon John Dylan” in giving new drummer Chris O’Connor a workout. The new track’s dreamy vocals seem to have been laid behind even more reverb, but the energy is still there, bouncing off the walls.
I’m a fan of the new drummer. Their previous drummer may have given their records a pleasing cohesiveness, but this new juxtaposition in energy seems to give a new confidence to the band’s latest songs.
Give Up Your Dreams is out on August 7 via Memphis Industries, and it’s available for pre-order on iTunes. Check it out if you’re a fan of Tame Impala, The Flaming Lips, Arcade Fire, and the like.