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Sons of Hippies: Griffons at the Gates of Heaven

Melodic/Psychedelic/Space Rock

4.5/5.0

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Cleopatra Records
by Craig Hartranft,  08.03.2013

Our friends over at Cleopatra Records really got my attention with new Sons of Hippies promo pack. Not only did it come with the CD of their latest album Griffons at the Gates of Heaven, but also a groovy album art poster, a cool 'Get High and Listen to the Sons of Hippies' patch and, dig this, a cassette version of the album. Totally awesome.

SoH: daughter hippie, son hippie, hipster hippie.

Formed from a fortuitous meeting of two hippie children at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, guitarist and vocalist Katherine Kelly and drummer Jonas Canales have been recording their trippy and dreamy melodic rock for several years. Their neo-psychedelic sound would be as comfortable in 1969 Haight-Ashbury as in a 2013 alternative music night club.

The trio works with simplest of ingredients: vocals, guitar, bass and drums. Yet their sound is more complex and textured. Kelly makes use of the sitar at times as on Animal Battle and Canales adds doses of Korg synthesizer here and there. Making it even a little more Sixties and Seventies old school sounding, Cleopatra Records stalwart and producer Billy Sherwood helps out with the Mellotron and Moog synthesizer.

The result is more than new alternative rock or a retro visit to psychedelic rock, but all those things. The music rocks and rolls with a dreamy and hypnotic atmosphere that compels you to listen. Kelly's vocals are a large part of this atmosphere with her lilting and breezy delivery, sometimes singing, soaring, or demanding as the shouts on Space Ride to 'turn your radio on.' Mostly, the lyrics are nonsensical chatter, but with Kelly's voice and the lush music, they sound, sometimes, like storytelling. Weird.

Basically, Griffons at the Gates of Heaven sounds really, really good, an interesting departure from the cookie cutter sameness that passes for modern alternative rock. Easily recommended.

Sons of Hippies - Spaceship Ride (Official)

Listen, The Buy: Sons of Hippies - Griffons at the Gates of Heaven

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

The melodic neo-psychedelic rock of Sons of Hippies' Griffons at the Gates of Heaven sounds really, really good, an interesting departure from the cookie cutter sameness that passes for modern alternative rock.

Alphabetical Index

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]