Foxygen
Cosmic Vibrations
Jagjaguwar

Foxygen returns with "Cosmic Vibrations", the second single (following "How Can You Really", put out on July 31st) from their new album ...And Star Power which was released some two-three weeks ago (we will return to the album next moonth). Anyway, Foxygen made quite an impression with their second full-length album, We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic last year. Let's check if they hold some more of the midas touch magic.

Foxygen still is an experimental rock twosome. The Foxygents are Jonathan Rado and Sam France, and the two of them had a joyous and frightening ride throughout last year. We Are the 21st... did very well, but success was maybe more than the pair could handle? The year was said to have been somewhat turbulent for the two. Like Jagjaguwar describes things: 'Foxygen's always captivating live performances shifted from eruptive to sometimes frightening' Well, they came through the year, and the started to write and record new material. At first listen "Cosmic Vibrations" is neither cosmic nor vibrant. When spinning the single a couple more times, it takes off, it lifts, it lifts... off the ground. Even though it's far from their best song. It hasn't got the joyful glow or tint like their former album has got. We Are the 21st... was described to be a '...precocious and cocksure joyride across California psychedelia.' Not that they have left the pop psychedelic valley. When 2013 ebbed, France and Rado found (secret) sanctuary in their new studio, called Dream Star, located in the 'northernmost passage of LA's valley'. And...out of Dream Star came Star Power: Foxygen 'reformed' as a punk band called Star Power. And, well, recently the two-some unveiled their 82-minute baby, ...And Star Power. I'm looking forward to diving into the whole new album. Jagjaguwar has said that the album is/sounds like '...a morphing, splice-and-paste journey through soft rock indulgences, psych-ward folk, cartoon fantasia, D&D doomrock, and paranoid bathroom rompers' and further: '...a cinematic, auditory adventure for the speedy freaks, skull krunchers, abductees, and misfits...the radio station you can only hear if you believe.' Tune in, turn up, etc.

Copyright © 2014 Håvard Oppøyen