A quirky pop strummer that just needs one drug reference to qualify as ‘psych.’ It’s Rachel Sumner! ‘Psych’ in the original sense of the term when people were dropping acid in the 60s and 70s, and coming up with the craziest symphonic arrangements and melodies under the general heading of popular music.

These days ‘psych’ music shades off into stoner music that hammers out some buzzy guitar progressions. But think back to the music of the Beatles, or Brian Wilson, or Mama Cass solo stuff, or someone like Doug Tuttle in recent years. It’s pretty clear-headed stuff in the execution, but you do need to be half-cocked at some level to try it for a full album.

Rachel Sumner dips her toes into similar waters. Then again, she’s composed the piece to include a celeste, mellotron, and French horn. So maybe she’s dipping in more than a few toes – our highlighted track “Katie” is a thigh high production.

Off Heartless Things, due in May.

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