Hailing from the UK, Black Market Karma have released their 10th full length on their own Flower Power Records label. The band has a unique knack for keeping things simple but creating beautiful textures ranging from jangle pop to more psyche oriented tunes covering a variety of generational influences. The 11 tracks on Aped Flair and Hijacked Ideas can take you anywhere from the UK in the 60’s to a the 90’s California coast and beyond without betraying their overall sound. Heavy tremolo permeates the air be it on the vocals or guitar or keys. There an upbeat feeling on this record. You cant really play it and not feel good. For the most part it has a light summer feel to it. Winter may be coming but this one is a great one for cranking on the drive to the shore from the opening tracks “Dead Trajectory” and “In My Child”. “Foresight for Hindsight” and “Kodama” touch a bit on the Madchester scene with some added eastern feeling as well. Jumble Jumble gets a bit heavier and darker with some freaky tremolo on the vocals. “Cadet #2187”, “The Sunshine Maker” and “Urchin” emphasize the jangle pop side of things. The Album closes out strongly with a few slower tunes “Kong”, “A Crying Shame” which is quite reminiscent of early Spiritualized, and finally my personal favorite the 9+ minute “Ace’s trip Through The Cosmic Ether”. This is an incredibly solid release. I’m having a hard time getting it off the turntable and it should place very well on my end of the year list. Let’s all hope for some vinyl releases of the outstanding back catalog in the future.
Released by Flower Power Records on Vinyl Here and Digital on Bandcamp
