Psychic Temple III

by Psychic Temple

Overview

For his third album under the Psychic Temple banner, Chris Schlarb has delivered a set of music that manages to be ambitious, eclectic, and accessible at once. Schlarb's creative instincts leaned toward jazz and experimental music on Psychic Temple's earlier releases, but this time out, elements of folk, country, and soul come to the forefront. The result isn't a complete departure from Schlarb's previous releases, but Psychic Temple III is consistently approachable in a way his previous work was not. Schlarb hasn't dumbed down his music, and the crew of musicians he assembled for these sessions is as gifted and emphatic as any he's worked with. But in his exploration of the music of the American South, Schlarb has brought out the heart and soul in his compositions. The easy but passionate groove of "Road Song," the breezy Americana of "When I Know," and the give and take between the fiddle and the pedal steel on "Getting Home" are all sophisticated in a way that doesn't seem pretentious. And the sinister "Feral Children of the Canyon" and "I Don't Need Nothin'," which feels like a Laurel Canyon homage gone just a bit wrong, both confirm Schlarb isn't obsessed with making nice on this album. The list of players on this album includes some stellar names, including R&B studio legends Spooner Oldham and David Hood, Minutemen co-founder Mike Watt, and Sufjan Stevens collaborator Nedelle Torrisi. The level of skill on display here is impressive, but it's Schlarb's vision as a composer, producer, and arranger that makes this album shine, and Psychic Temple III is further confirmation that he's a major talent with clear vision and a remarkably broad stylistic range. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	05/06/2016
Label:	Asthmatic Kitty
UPC:	0656605612911
Rank:	98636

Tracks

1. Overture
2. When I Know
3. You Ain't a Star (Prelude)
4. You Ain't a Star
5. Getting Home
6. I'm Not Far Behind
7. Feral Children of the Canyon
8. Don't Try
9. Brother O
10. NO RECALL (Prelude)
11. Neon Belly
12. I Don't Need Nothin'
13. Road Song
14. NO RECALL

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Psychic Temple   Primary Artist
Steuart Liebig   Bass (Electric),6-String Electric Bass
Elliot Bergman   Sax (Baritone)
Spooner Oldham   Organ (Hammond)
David Hood   Bass (Electric)
Liz Janes   Vocals (Background)
Chris Schlarb   Vocals,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Tambourine,Drum Machine,Organ (Hammond),Moog Synthesizer,Piano (Electric),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Aaron Roche   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Nedelle Torrisi   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Kris Tiner   Trumpet
Mike Watt   Bass (Electric)
Dave Easley   Banjo
Avi Buffalo   Guitar (Acoustic)
Sheridan Riley   Drums,Guitar (Acoustic)
Frank Maston   Vocals (Background)
Tabor Allen   Drums,Percussion
Anthony Shadduck   Double Bass
Adriana Schlarb   Vocals (Background)
Philip Glenn   Violin,Mandolin,Piano (Electric)
Jeremy Trezona   Sax (Tenor)
Ted Byrnes   Drums,Percussion

Technical Credits

Chris Murphy   Mixing
Chris Schlarb   Tapes,Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Dave Easley   Engineer
Tyler Watkins   Engineer
John Gifford   Engineer
Jason Munn   Design
Devin O'Brien   Engineer
Frank Maston   Engineer
Tabor Allen   Composer
Olivia Hemaratanatorn   Photography