Clear Lake Forest [LP] in Bloomington, MN

The
Black Angels
have already earned the ultimate accolade for a psychedelic-influenced band from Texas, having toured with legendary
13th Floor Elevators
frontman
Roky Erickson
as his opening act and backing band, and they return to the studio to show their fans they have plenty of cool, moody, but expressive music left in the pipeline.
Clear Lake Forest
is a seven-song EP that confirms
the Black Angels
' rich, echo-laden sound, primitive guitar and organ lines, and trippy but engaging melody lines are all as strong as ever, while the lyrical themes manage to sound playful even as they drip with elements of darkness. The
began toying with poppier material on 2013's
Indigo Meadow
, and though
finds them creeping back into the shadow world, this is more melodic and vibrant than their early work, as the band rocks out on the frantic dance number "The Flop" and pays knowing homage to
the Velvet Underground
on the final cut, "Linda's Gone." [
was originally issued as a limited release for 2013 Record Store Day, but it was reissued in an unlimited pressing the following year.] ~ Mark Deming