The Lucid Dream

Compulsion Songs

HOLY ARE YOU. CD/DL/LP

Third slab of reverb-heavy six-string exploits from Cumbrian psych troupe.

These tidily named Carlisle noisemongers built up a head of steam on the underground psych rock circuit long before it tripped back into vogue. And as with its predecessors, Compulsion Songs is jammed with feedback-laden throwback journeys that still worship respectfully at the altar of Spacemen 3, The Jesus And Mary Chain and Sonic Youth. While some of their crumbling riffs are as well-worn as Hadrian’s Wall, when they go pedal-to-the-metal it rarely fails, be it in the furious 13th Floor Elevators thrash of 21st Century, thunderously doomy dub groove of I’m A Star In My Own Right or failsafe Krautrock-out of 11-minute closer Epitaph. However, even more startling revolutions may be needed to stop them whiffing of a perpetual support band.