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West Indian Girl - West Indian Girl - Astralwerks

In 1963, renowned chemists Bear Owsley and Nick Sands developed a strain of designer LSD which had a reputation for inducing tribal hallucinations. This strain of acid was called “west indian girl,” hence the name for which the Los Angeles duo of Robert James and Francis Ten have chosen to call their musical collaboration.



The musical sensibility of this marvelous, trippy debut is evocative of those hallucinogenic daze of the 1960’s, but this is modern day psychedelia. Listen closely and you’ll be able to hear musical touchstones like the Verve, Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Jane’s Addiction, Bowie, Can and even the literary folkisms of Simon & Garfunkel (particularly on the song “Leave Tonight”).

Even with these familiarities, West Indian Girl has a fresh sound, and throughout the album they breeze through open-ended musical soundscapes that are hypnotic, buzzing, jangly and melodically engaging. Songs like “Hollywood,” “What Are You Afraid Of,” “Northern Sky,” and “Dreams” are mind-altering tunes – Lovely Sound Designs for modern times.

Written by Bruce Warren

Release Date: 8/24/2004

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