Album Review :: Charles Howl - Sir Vices

Charles Howl

Sir Vices

March 16 2015 (Ample Play)

7/10

Words: Dave Beech

Whilst never quite straying whole-heartedly in to the realms of pure psychedelic freak-outs (the band metaphorically preferring to nibble quizzically at mushrooms rather than embrace the shamanic intensity of other substances), Charles Howl manage to uphold enough of a trippy aesthetic to keep everyone but the most ardent of psychonauts in a state of blissed-out alternate conciousness. Not satisfied with inward journeys of introspection alone however, 'Sir Vices' sees the duo (a four-piece for recordings), taking transatlantic cues from West Coast surf rock as often as the brit-pop the band grew up with.

Beginning with the classic '60s psych sounds in the form of 'So Long', one would be forgiven for making the assumption that 'Sir Vices' would be an album of drawn-out guitar sections, Eastern flavours and bizarre vocal harmonies. Surprisingly, however, the pacing stems entirely from the inherent surf-pop influences (half of the tracks coming in at under three minutes) and whilst they may not all clatter and rattle towards their conclusions in true surf-pop style, opting to meander in the San Fran heat haze instead, the influence is unmistakeably there.

It's a little disconcerting at first, with tracks such as 'Peace & Quiet' and 'Field of Joy' seemingly running far longer than their time suggests, but after only a couple of listens, it becomes evident that that's part of the record's charm, and when the pace is really picked up on the likes of 'I Love You 47' and 'Give Me Solar', it shines. Figuratively, of course, such is the reverb so heavy in places that little more than a dull glimmer escapes from beneath the blanket of fuzz. One track which doesn't so much escape it as embrace it, is previous release 'Going Down Without A Hi'. Propelled forward by incessant cymbal crashes and the motorik rhythm of the guitar hook, it's the perfect example of a track which feels longer than it is, despite the constant feeling of forward motion it perpetuates.

As far as it goes, the lite-psych on offer here is pretty accessible, but 'Sir Vices' still takes a couple of listens before everything really falls in to place; the lush, shimmering melodies at first feeling at odds with the generous amounts of reverb the record is soaked in. Once it does click, the throbbing pull of freakbeat rhythms will keep listeners going back time and time again. Just don't show it your grandparents, once you start on the softer stuff, it's only a matter of time before you find your way to the really trippy shit.