Crap! The Photon Band's coming back! Art DiFuria's crew of rock stars has ditched some of their heavy-handed psych-rock druthers, remembered that they're from Philadelphia and that Philly offers much in terms of soul, and have blended psych-rock and soul to form an amazingly wonderful sound that's both refreshingly new and downright traditional. Sure, they still have a bit of that ol' Stones-y vibe about them, but it's kind of toned down, too. Their first new release in many moons is a five-song downloadable EP, Get Down Here in the Stratosphere. Of the five songs here, there's fast-paced soul ("Sister (Alright)", "Find a Better Way to Live"), mellow rock, ("Stratosphere") social commentary a la 60s mod rock ("Them Red White and Blues/Hi-Fidelity Suite"), and a wonderful blues-rock ballad, "Words Get in the Way." I have tried to get into The Photon Band before, and they just never connected. This EP, however, shows that the band's return after a few years' hiatus may prove to be a wise decision. Their new record, Back Down to Earth, will be released in January.
Listen To: Get Down Here in the Stratosphere
Get Down Here in the Stratosphere is available now from Empyrean RecordsLabels: Empyrean Records, The Photon Band |
Thanks very much for the kind words about "Stratosphere". At the time I wrote those songs, I was feeling the same way about our psyche doldrums. You nailed it! (((art)))