How would you react to an album named ‘Cobra Juicy’ by a band that calls itself Black Moth Super Rainbow? Don’t know? Well, I’ll tell you. Buy it, download it, watch it on YouTube, but ensure that you listen to it. An indie band based out of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Black Moth Super Rainbow (BMSR) have crafted a unique-sounding album, with a sound that can only be described as ‘trippy’.
Not much is known about the band, as they prefer to stay out of the limelight. However, you have never heard anything like this before. Vocoded vocals, scratchy over-driven guitars, unusual drumming patterns, and strangely melodious synthesiser effects — BMSR have combined all this to create surprisingly catchy songs. The lyrics, however, tread in cynical, even dark, territory with abstract themes of heartbreak and angst. Although the lyrics sound simplistic at first, they have a fair degree of depth.
The album, as a whole, surprises you with the uniqueness of every track and the elements used to create a, dare I say, landmark sound. One of the stand-out tracks, ‘Hairspray Heart’, features a 1970s rock guitar riff juxtaposed with synth and vocals that would not be out of place in a sci-fi movie, creating a sound that sticks in your head. ‘The Healing Power Of Nothing’ combines punk rock elements with 1980s synth pop, while ‘Dreamsicle Bomb’ sounds like a 1990s pop song on acid.
What makes BMSR stand out is the fact that, despite being experimental, they manage to create truly good music; something that most new ‘experimental’ artists are slowly forgetting. It would be difficult to classify their genre of music; that’s what makes them special.
