First Beige - Solstice LP

​First Beige

Solstice LP
self-released; 2016

3.8 out of 5

By J Simpson
​

Are you one of the few who felt vaguely disappointed when Grizzly Bear went all prog with Shields? Or when Iron & Wine began to verge on dad rock?

While, on one hand, it's always thrilling to see artists we love and respect getting the recognition and resources they deserve, it always feels vaguely disappointing when musicians decamp from the indie ghetto as fast as they can. It's almost as if to say, "Sorry about the fuzz! We're a real band, honest!"

This totally overlooks the fact that a lot of the charm of these groups that independent artists could make such great, imaginative, innovative records with such humble means. It also introduces new tones, techniques and textures into pop's vernacular, extending the scope of music and musicality for everybody.

Solstice is the debut recording from Brisbane, Australia's First Beige. It's an utterly beguiling, transfixing, captivating gem of a lo-fi indie synth pop record. Inspired by the likes of both Connan Mockasin as well as Tame Impala, you can expect to hear intimate, experimental lo-fi ballads delivered in a wide-screen psychedelic fidelity.

It's a compelling mix that makes the best of each genre it touches. The electronica/hip-hop aspect is tight as hell with beats that bludgeon and hypnotize in equal measure, like on “Signs," while "Dreams" could land First Beige an opening slot for Father John Misty (if he wouldn't be worried of being upstaged).

The intimate song skeletons are fleshed out with kaleidoscopic organs, crunching beats, Beach Boy harmonies and Catherine wheels of experimental post-production, whirling around the edges. It's the kind of record you return to, again and again, and it gets better each time.

​With each passing day, it seems that Australia is doing more for the psychedelic resurgence than 10,000 hits of sunshine blotter could. Here's to a golden age of slick, clean, clear, and powerful lo-fi psychedelic dream pop.

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