Temples

Temples

Sun Structures

(Heavenly)

With Tame Impala's Lonerism high on 2012's Best Of lists and Toy's Join The Dots a late challenger among 2013's albums of the year, a return to psychedelic rock is high on the muso agenda. This debut from Kettering quartet Temples is arguably even more nostalgically precise in terms of musical mannerisms, with almost every song inspired, in some way, by Revolver-era The Beatles and Tomorrow Never Knows in particular. Actually, that's a bit unfair: the influences are brazenly obvious (lots of Byrd harmonies and Syd Barrett haircuts) but Temples can write a tune. The Golden Throne features a flowing 1960s melody festooned with spooky keyboard and compressed guitar flourishes, while recent single Mesmerise is a glorious slide down a Technicolor helter-skelter and Move With The Season exists in a permanent Summer of Love state. So the retro psychedelic style is Temples' defining factor, but there are truly great pop songs wrapped up in these kaleidoscopic effects and reverb-heavy drums. Banish fears of a new Kula Shaker, and embrace the new hippie dawn.

Alan Morrison