The Swells - Inner Migrations

The album cover of The Swells "Inner Migrations" album makes me think of the late, great Bob Ross doing 'shrooms while imagining all of his fans clicking over to see his show. Then again, it could just be an homage to Pink Floyd's "Ummagumma" cover which, like this one, utilized the Droste effect. It pretty much hints to what the contents will be with the freaky colored clouds hovering in the background. If that's not enough, you can visit the band's Facebook page and see it spelled out to you:

The Swells is a Psychedelic Rock group hailing from Nashville, TN, USA.

I like that. Just be out front about what you sound like these days. Side A of "Inner Migrations" begins with a fuzz tone straight outta the garage (you can bet there are blacklight posters on the wall too) and straight from early Pink Floyd with a bit of "Elephant Stone" era Stone Roses to boot. First tune, "Tangerine", is some fast psychedelics tempered only with flanged vocals, and if you enjoy flanged and processed vocals you are in for a treat on this EP. Main man, Chris Higdon, who wrote the tunes and designed the awesome cover, really must dig them. 

Track 2 "Cosmic Caravan" feels like a less jazzy update of Black Sabbath's "Planet Caravan" albeit with no vocals and an almost dance like groove underneath. I can't tell if the bass is actually a synth line or not. Well done. There's some fantastic guitar that somehow reminded me of the guitar sample (I believe Prince's "Let's Go Crazy") used in Public Enemy's "Brothers Gonna Work It Out" so how's that for picture inside a picture inside a picture. The tune ends with the sound of water.  The next song is called "Bones" which features some heavy flanged vocals once more evoking "Planet Caravan", but the music is more on the trip hop side with a spacey synth and flute. Perhaps the mellotron credited is used also. I can't tell if the lyrics are "we're just bones" or "witch's bones". I suspect the first is right, but would be interesting if the second was really the words. This first side wraps up with "Drifting" which has some buzzing heavyosity to it. If the processed vocals were ditched it would be the most purely commercial cut on the EP.  Think Jack White solo crossed with Greta Van Fleet. I suppose the processed vocals keep the tune from falling into the Seventies dinosaur rock tarpit, but sometimes that's what I want to hear. 

"Be In The Flow" kicks off the B side and it's probably my favorite. 60's style humming with a flute begin until the drummer kicks off a galloping psych surf beat. Some slashing wah-wah as we are urged to "let it all out, take it in stride, it's just a moment in time." Simple rock and roll adorned with cool baubles that ends taking another dip into the water while some cinematic Indian type music plays us out. "Flower" is next. It's a slow burner of a song. It's probably a good one to hear live. The EP ends with "Despertar" which means to awake. It's mellow in spots, but rocking in others. I think they were going for an epic vibe. The guitar tone is boss in the fast parts. The coda would, once again, make for great film music, it led me to write this down as it played: smokey haze of rapture. Pretty positive there! So go out and see The Swells if you can. Purchase their music. 

They have another release titled "Take Off" which just came out that I hope to also review. They play out around the Middle Tennessee area, but are hoping to get a tour up the East Coast soon. So check out their homepage linked at the first of this review. You can hear them on Spotify. And you can also follow them at Instagram @theswells_official.