Colossal Apostle / Debut Single The Well A Seductive Slice Of Melodic Psychedelia

Some of you may recall my thoughts on the assonantly named Colossal Apostle when they opened for Bobbie Dazzle at The Giffard Arms, Wolverhampton, back in March. Their description of playing ‘Sabbath City Avant-Grunge Nonsense’ is as a result of being influenced by such disparate elements as avant-garde, fuzz-soaked, chaotically intense, jazz-tinged psychedelia, which they now harvest to produce a sound that gleefully evades categorisation.

I summarised their above performance as “Evocative soundscapes abound in an absorbing and fulfilling half hour’.” The full article is available here. Out today, is their debut single The Well which closed that set.

At the time, I remarked, “Comprising an ascending pealing riff which gathered mass as the momentous closing melody appeared to fuse Cheap Trick with The Beatles.” Now, having heard the polished studio rendition, I can elaborate.  

An ambient whistle joined by a harmonium drone, both courtesy of the multi-talented Aaron Bolli-Thompson, form an evocative intro prior to his floaty vocal rising above a percussive swirling panorama of multi-layered guitars crashing in. Beneath this, Stuart’s expressive, fluid bass is singing its own undulating baritone melody.  

Already swept away by the immersive sonicity, the rhythms increment further on the succinct chorus and the preface to the obligatory solo.  When Stephen’s lead does enter the fray, it is an expressive delight that can trace its roots to distorted stoner blues.

Trailed by a funky bass bridge which precedes more ominous resonant chords, the vocal refrain is accentuated yet further by the massed backing vocals as it steams towards its coda.

A seductive and increasingly addictive slice of melodic yet heavily cadenced propulsive psychedelia that is a product of unbridled talent, technical expertise and musical ambition.  

Credit must also go to the Colossal Apostle and Stephen Reddan, the production team, who ensure that all the ingredients are given enough breathing space.

I look forward to hearing more of their output in the very near future.   

A band like this imbue “no ordinary feeling”.

The Well by Colossal Apostle is available from Bandcamp.

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