This is fine.
Not sure how we missed the news of another highly anticipated album from our UK mates Temples, but it’s never too late to share their fantastic music. The band’s latest single “You’re Either On Something” can be found streaming below for your enjoyment. As usual, the band continues to keep things focused on true rock music with heavy, fuzzed out guitars and a super tight rhythm section.
Temples will be releasing new album Hot Motion on September 27th via ATO Records.
I’m currently rocking four jobs, so forgive me if I’m not always minutes behind the tunes…I still had to post this new Temples track. For me, there’s something new going on in their sound; they’re no longer just touching on psychedelic rehash. Instead, they seem to be favoring a huge swath of pop sensibility…recalling the best moments of Flaming Lips (been listening to the Lips a lot lately). The lyrics are slightly coated, yet it’s impossible to hear the melodies bursting forth from beneath the surface of these tracks. Their new album Volcano will be out on February 3rd via Fat Possum, and if it sounds at all like this song, it’s going to be a huge success.
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I’ll got out on a limb and say that I thought Temples were an excellent act; I even think I would choose them over Tame Impala (as both rose to fame at similar times). Now, the band is back with a new tune, though this seems to be in that world where their psych influences crash into the pop sensibility of Yoshimi-era Flaming Lips. That’s not entirely a bad thing, as I can get behind both bits, but there’s a bit of dialing it in. We’ll see how the entirety of their new forthcoming album shapes up, but for now, I’m straddling the fence on this new stuff.
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Cleveland. Many people groan at the idea of going to Cleveland, but I had heard many good things about the city by the big-assed lake. Au contraire, this is a good food town with plenty of venues to check out jams. I went to Lola last night, Michael Symon’s fancy place, and dear jeebus it was good. The night before I went to catch Temples at The Grog Shop. I was treated to locals Nowhere and Philly’s The Districts and dear jeebus, it was good.
So click through and see a bit of the Cleveland scene…
Weekend one of ACL is now over, so naturally it’s time to reflect on what went down during the 3 day festival. Today we’ll be focusing on Friday of the first weekend and offering our thoughts on bands that played along with the general atmosphere. Each ATH member will share their opinion and we’ll also get some fancy photos from our man B.Gray.
Follow the jump for photos and recaps.
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Rating: 
The opening moments of Sun Structures will set the definitive tone for Temples, immediately making a nod to the storied past of psychedelic music. But, while that genre has gradually grown stale, this record still illustrates that there are a few gems left to be eked out of the staple sound.
When I put on “Shelter Song,” my ears recoiled a bit; that guitar sound needs to be retired for a bit. But, as the song unfolds there’s some great harmonized pop moments unleashed on the listener. It’s done in a casual fashion too, illustrating the reserved cool that permeates through every inch of Sun Structures. And it doesn’t take too long for the record to move into one of its many hits, “Sun Structures.” This song, like the album, takes its time to build you up; my favorite thing about these collection of songs is that they come to you slow and relaxed, as if the band expected you to really indulge in the listening experience.
And while I’ve clearly lumped Temples into a corner, there are songs that demonstrate that the band have one foot in the past and one stepping into a new realm. The one-two punch of “Keep in the Dark” and “Mesmerise” provide some energetic spins on the genre. The former opens with a light-hearted stomp that includes a bit of fuzzed out riffs near the end; there’s also this explosive beauty that bursts forth through the lyrics. The latter track is all pop. It’s tucked nicely in a warm cocoon of psychedelic vibes, but it’s the perfect place for such a track, giving you a bit of palate cleanser to allow you to digest the rest of this listen.
What has amazed me most about listening to Sun Structures is that despite the length of the songs, they never wear you down. Even on a song like “Sand Dance,” there’s so much to offer aside from what you’re initially being offered. On this tune you’ll find a very classic psych sound, but then there’s this spaced out jam that unfolds to close out the track. The band is not just interested in finite sounds defining what they’re doing; it’s quite refreshing. And, the closing number, “Fragment’s Light,” is an airy closing touch, which again allows you to reflect on everything you’ve heard before.
My advice to you when listening to Sun Structures is to set aside some time to devote to listening to it as a whole. I understand that in today’s world we often don’t have the time, but if you rush your listen, as I might have done on the first few plays, you’ll miss out on a very cohesive release that seems to be arranged perfectly. It’s easy to lump Temples in with the masses of psych bands riding the waves of a tired trend, but if anything, this release shows there’s far more laying in wait, if you’ll only take a little time.
Looks like 2013 is pretty much behind us, musically speaking. We’re all starting to look forward towards releases for 2014, and one of the hottest names on that list is Temples. They’ve just released the single for their debut, Sun Structures, which will see a release on Fat Possum on the 11th of February. There’s a propulsive element to the track, but the lyrics have this lofty quality that demonstrates the pop-centric approach of the band’s sound. I love how they go from pushing forward, to breaking things down, momentarily going for a softer moment. 2013 was good, but looks like 2014 has plenty to offer as well.
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