ODDFELLOWS CASINO - The Lewes Psych Fest Sessions

Eccentric and bohemian, the Lewes Psychedelic Festival is one of the most interesting events for fans of the more naive and magical strain of psychedelic music, a gathering that offers a glimpse into that underground scene far removed from the hype surrounding the heavier psychedelic rock revival.

The festival takes place in an old church donated to the Lewes municipality and turned into a community, arts and youth centre. In this mystical, ethereal setting, David Bramwell and his band Odfellow's Casino performed with the aim of finally recording their first live album after more than twenty years of career. A perfect backdrop for a band that has made restraint its stylistic trademark, so it's no surprise that critics singled out their live act as one of the highlights of the 2023 edition of the festival.

The release of "The Lewes Psych Fest Sessions" offers a chance to fully appreciate the already well-known qualities of Bramwell and co.'s music. The spectacular interplay of male and female voices, the riot of folk-psych soundscapes built from flutes, drums, violins and mellotron, is a real delight, while the progressive leanings and lyrics rich in literary references add further allure to a set that will surprise even the band's own fans.

In cases like this, it's pointless to single out any particular track: the whole set is an enchanting, dreamlike journey through an ascetic, spiritual world that musically has no qualms about flirting with electronics, and even wins one of the toughest challenges around, namely fitting an instrument like the trumpet into a context that isn't exactly suited to it — yet another demonstration of Oddfellow's Casino's quality.

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09/11/2024