LSD March — Under Milk Wood

Under milk wood sees LSD March return with the most approachable take on their  distinctive sound thus far. It finds psyched & blissed-out electric guitar drifts meeting slowed post Velvet Underground riffing. Dabed with wonky and wavering folk and pop sentiments that are all tied together with an quirky and experimental ribbon.

The nine songs here are all cut fairly short and precise falling around the two to six minute mark each, meaning that the bands sonic focus is consistent and structured yet still has an wonderful lose, playful and creative air. Through the albums cover picture's of the pair wondering through snow may suggest the album is going to rather mournful and  bleak affair for the most part it’s stays fairly buoyant and memorable, through many of the tracks are ribbed with an quite atmospheric, wavering cinematic and at times bitter-sweet air. 

Each track here managers to varying the pace and sonic focus nicely; we go from the slow acoustic/ electric guitar 1970’s Neil Young like shimmer of the opener Bisyonure No Kimi.To the exotic acoustic guitar, organ dwell and rainstick slumber of Sekai No Shizukesa , to the rising 70’s rock slow fist pump and head bang of Dare Ga Hoeru, to the shambling blues picks, stop and start strut of Taiyo No Uta. The albums pretty much a pleasure from beginning to end with the pair managing to keep the tracks memorable & creative, slipping between been quirky, playful and atmospheric and emotional- the only major mis-step here is the groan inducing studio banter start stop humour of the last untitled track which is best skipped.