Obscured by Echoes

Avidonia Pt. 1: The Escape

Psychedelic rock thrives on long, strange trips. Obscured by Echoes elucidates on Avidonia Pt. 1: The Escape. Exploiting the more sinister sounds of its “Nuclear Winter” single rather than the Paisley Underground noises of 2013 debut Black Matter Manifesto, the Austin quintet crawls through outer space in a state of dark whimsy. “The Jericho Blueprint” and “Interstellar Refugee” engage supernatural science fiction, layering Kyle Abrams’ gliding guitar, Aly Beaujon’s cosmic keyboards, and Johnny Flores’ colorful croon into prickly acid prog emulating the Pink Floyd work that inspired the band’s moniker. “Professor Glass” and “Delorum Pandorum” add the perfect dollop of creeping madness to the space-time continuum – “You’re coo-coo in your head,” Flores titters on the latter. Only the sparse, intimate “Dear Simone” breaks the spell, and even it sounds beamed in from another dimension. Like the best psych, Avidonia Pt. 1: The Escape transports you to another plane, with Obscured by Echoes as your co-pilot.

***.5

This article appears in February 13 • 2015.

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Michael Toland started writing about music in 1988 on the Gulf Coast, moved to Austin in early 1991, and has inflicted bylines upon the corporeal and digital pages of Pop Culture Press, The Big Takeover, Blurt, Amplifier, Austin.citysearch, the Austin American Statesman, Goldmine, Sleazegrinder, Rock & Roll Globe, High Bias, FHT Music Notes, and, since 2011, The Austin Chronicle.