Mirror Eye

iTunes Review

Like their label mates Gang Gang Dance, The Brooklyn-based quartet Psychic Ills draw much of their inspiration from the unfamiliar sonic textures, relentless drones, and slippery rhythms of psych- inflected Middle Eastern and West African music of the ‘70s. Unlike Gang Gang Dance, the Psychic Ills do not use these rhythms and textures as the basis for frenetic, remix-ready dance tracks. Instead the group prefers to submerge itself in layers of gloopy distortion and synthetic murk, creating dissonant, paranoia-inducing soundscapes. Though Mirror Eye is more succinctly articulated than Dins, their sprawling debut, there are still plenty of meandering jams to go around, most notably the eleven-minute opener “Mantis,” a track that spews chirping synth noises over a hypnotic hand drum rhythm to mesmerizing effect. More succinct is the astounding “Fingernail Tea” that twists the sound of ‘60s Texas psychedelia into an almost poppy three-minute number. Though Mirror Eye undoubtedly borrows from the innovations of underground icons like the Sun City Girls, Spacemen 3, and others, the group seems to have crystallized its trademark sound here; dense and demanding certainly, but also utterly unique.