More about: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets

Inventive, imaginative music? Zany song titles? Heavy riffage? The staples of the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets brand are in abundance for the Perth five-piece’s fifth album, Night Gnomes. Sticking to the formula album after album would be a turn-off for many bands but, such is the irrepressible creativity of songwriter/frontman Jack McEwan that Psychedelic Porn Crumpets offer a reassuringly unique hard/psych rock output which consistently entertains and stands out. 

Recorded in McEwan’s home studio, the production is impressive, allowing an ever-present psychedelic aura to pervade the 11 tracks recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown in Australia. The sinister psychological impact of COVID-19 stalks over the album with McEwan describing the lyrical content of Night Gnomes as "trying to work out what the fuck is going on". 

The epically titled ‘Terminus the Creator’ opens with distorted synths which slowly make way for Danny Caddy’s crashing drums and then the rest of the band’s contributions, with McEwan’s vocals making him sound like he’s underwater—a feature which plays out intermittently throughout the album. Those lucky enough to catch Psychedelic Porn Crumpets on their tour in August and September can have no better opening track to set the scene for the often behemoth-like hard rock the band is so good at churning out. 

A trio of excellent songs follows with 2021 single ‘Lava Lamp Pisco’ showcasing heavy riffs and a claustrophobic sound which doesn’t let you go, ‘Dread and Butter’ an acoustic guitar-driven nostalgic journey building beautifully to a string-led crescendo and latest single ‘Bubblegum Infinity’ charting its course with a heavy guitar groove with McEwan’s lyrics focusing on breathing techniques as chaos envelops him. ‘Dread and Butter’ is notable for its radio-friendly sound (not something Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are known for), though, lyrically, it would certainly stand out with lyrics such as "place a battery on my tongue". ‘Bubblegum Infinity’ offers a production highlight with McEwan’s distant vocals suddenly booming through the speakers thanks to a "switch of radio station". 

The hard rock of ‘Lava Lamp Pisco’ is replicated in ‘Bob Holiday’ with McEwan’s vocals clearer than on most tracks and the band aping the tight sound of Jet. ‘Acid Dent’ is a thrilling, fast-paced song which, lyrically, muses on the need to slow down as the band gets older. This is conveyed by a slowing of the pace later in the song to give space to McEwan and fellow guitarist, Luke Parish’s '80s-esque guitar solo. 

Title track ‘Night Gnomes’ is ludicrous and fun, McEwan singing about gnomes frolicking in a mythical forest set to a fairytale-like soundtrack which conjures up visions of a CGI animated kids’ show with a dark twist. If the track had a spirit animal, and yes, the song makes you ponder such questions(!), Tenacious D’s ‘Wonderboy’ would be a good shout. 

‘Microwave Dave’ is the length of an interlude or skit and pairs a narrative of one man’s mundanity with psychedelic musical accompaniment very much in keeping with the wilder output of The Beatles. 

Instrumental track ‘In Dream Out’ is a calming creation with almost ethereal guitar teeing up final song ‘Slinky Holy Water’, a pensive effort including watery guitar and a David Bowie-like simple acoustic guitar-led chorus. It’s shoegaze-y in the extreme with woozy harmonies and McEwan’s vocals joined by a second voice like that of a demon child as the song fades at the end. 

Of all the tracks, only ‘Sherbert Straws’ fails to land with a complex, yet forgettable, arrangement. The abstract lyrics and often unclear vocals leave the album light on emotional heft and rarely do the tracks transcend beyond playful efforts with the band masterfully commanding their instruments. But intelligent, arresting music it is with McEwan’s riffs and Parish’s high notes on lead guitar the lifeblood of the album.  

Few bands currently occupy the space of hard/psychedelic rock (Ty Segall, King Gizzard, to name a couple) but Psychedelic Porn Crumpets do and Night Gnomes is a typically impressive addition to their discography. 

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More about: Psychedelic Porn Crumpets