Call it "Glo-fi," "Chill Wave," or "Dream Pop," Psychchedelia is a genre that has been enjoying a resurgence in Brooklyn as of late, and Sacred Bones recording artist Amen Dunes – the solo project of New York-based vocalist and guitarist Damon McMahon – fits squarely into this category. The band recently released this video of "Bedroom Drum," from their 3rd CD "Through Donkey Jaw" (released in 2011). The vocals come with expected reverberation, however not to the point where the singer’s soulfulness is lost, and float on guitars that are heavily modulated, an effect that creates a siniter and alienated atmosphere. The percussion exists as the most basic of minimal pulses, giving the impression that the song’s feelings and melodies are barely kept alive by a feeble heart beat. "Baba Yaga" allows for a more spacious sonic spectrum, keeping the guitar simple and cleaner, and vocals closer to a chant, offering a vibe reminiscent of the more intimate songs of the early Velvet Underground. "Christopher" suggests what it might sound like if you took a Beach Boys song and ran it through hall of mirrors, while "Diane" strums gentle acoustic tones on a hypnagogic trip. Amen Dunes will be opening for This Will Destroy You on February 23 at 285 Kent in Brooklyn. – Dave Cromwell
