Review: "Departures" Album by Super OK
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Psychedelic rock, ambient, and grunge merge to form Super OK’s intensely felt debut album, “Departures”. Volume is a given for the sound holds absolutely nothing back. A degree of decadence runs through the entirety of the journey for this is a rich, carefully considered sound. From the vocals that swim through the din to the way that they let their amps simply sing everything here has an intrinsic beauty to it one that pops with so much color. Lyrics too feature an uncanny knack for storytelling with the evolution of the sound becoming at times life-affirming.
The Los Angeles based band’s sound brings to mind the revamped version of Tame Impala’s tripped-out rock musings. Much like that group, Super OK harnesses a purely physical force. Everything on here too features a degree of interplay that is absolute bliss to fully behold. On the psych sound of things, Super OK would be in good company with the likes of much of Riot’s Season’s roster, for they too have a modern take on some of the trippy aspects of rock. Constant twists and turns help to make much of the work completely unpredictable.
“East Us Alive” starts the “Departures” album off with gusto as they propel the listener into their own aural universe. Things slow down a bit on the reflective stance of “Break the Faith”. With a hint of prog rock, “Traitorous” has a spidery aspect to it for it weaves a rather fascinating web. On “616” the song bursts at the very seams, with a blown-out presence and a driving groove. Drumming features a jazzy tact with “Debt”.
Shoegaze dynamics allow “Push” the right degree of dreaminess. Nearly angelic “Lease” has a purposeful aspect, calming at times. Drums hit with a persistence on “Same Cage”. “Agamotto” revels in the whole band’s exquisite chops with each reiteration of the theme bringing evermore chaos. Sprawling out into the infinite “Superego” has a meditative presence. By far the highlight, “Land” combines all that came before it into a sprawling yet cohesive whole. So lovely, Super OK’s post-rock leanings are most prominent on here. Fuzzed-out “Half Past Nothing” has a punk ethos. With “Rising Tide” they end things on a thought-provoking note.
“Departures” features the exquisite nature of Super OK for the atmosphere virtually wraps itself around the listener giving it a fully immersive experience.