The Black Angels - Clear Lake Forest (Clear Vinyl)

The Black Angels have already earned the ultimate accolade for a psychedelic-influenced band from Texas, having toured with legendary 13th Floor Elevators frontman Roky Erickson as his opening act and backing band, and they return to the studio to show their fans they have plenty of cool, moody, but expressive music left in the pipeline. Clear Lake Forest is a seven-song EP that confirms the Black Angels' rich, echo-laden sound, primitive guitar and organ lines, and trippy but engaging melody lines are all as strong as ever, while the lyrical themes manage to sound playful even as they drip with elements of darkness. The Black Angels began toying with poppier material on 2013's Indigo Meadow, and though Clear Lake Forest finds them creeping back into the shadow world, this is more melodic and vibrant than their early work, as the band rocks out on the frantic dance number "The Flop" and pays knowing homage to the Velvet Underground on the final cut, "Linda's Gone." [Clear Lake Forest was originally issued as a limited release for 2013 Record Store Day, but it was reissued in an unlimited pressing the following year.] ~ Mark Deming