Psychonaut in Bloomington, MN

Psychonaut
is more relaxed and has far less
electronic
elements than either
Brainticket
's first record,
Cottonwoodhill
, or the album that followed,
Celestial Ocean
. Though the record is more straightforward and song-oriented, it still has
progressive
and
experimental
elements that keep it from sounding too much like anything else. If anything, the group is not quite focused on any one style on this record, throwing in everything from the
ethnic
-influenced
folk
of
"Radagacuca"
"One Morning"
to the more
traditional
strummy
"Feel the Wind Blow"
to the percussion-heavy
avant
-
funk
instrumental
"Coco Mary"
to the quirky
rock
assaults of
"Watchin' You"
"Like a Place in the Sun."
"Like a Place in the Sun"
is particularly effective, with dark
spoken word
vocals alternating in contrast with the sung chorus of its title. Effects and
electronics
are used much more subtly (especially compared to the earlier record), but are still quite evident.
may not be as cohesive as the other early
albums, but it is also not as chaotic either, and as such may be the group's most accessible record without sacrificing originality. ~ Rolf Semprebon