Jess and the Ancient Ones – The Horse and Other Weird Tales (2017)

Unleashing one of the most groovy and psychedelic releases of 2017, today we have Finland’s Jess and the Ancient Ones and their third full-length release “The Horse and Other Weird Tales”. Featuring nine songs and over 30 minutes of deeply intoxicating music, this release will transport you back in time with its funky vibe and excellent instrumentation.

Opening with the killer old-school Psych Rock vibes of “Death is the Doors”, we are instantly transported into the band’s own world. While the whole Psych Rock fad has gotten mainstream in the last few years, JATO’s leading lady is one of the main elements that sets them apart from the rest. Her sultry voice is a perfect fit for such trippy and mysterious music, and if you are lucky enough to see them live, her stage presence is truly mesmerizing.

Focusing on shorter and more direct songs, the band unleashes brilliant tracks like “Shining” and the jazzy “Your Exploding Heads”, both pieces featuring killer vocal arrangements and playful percussions. The band’s use of retro synths and amps is brilliant and allows their sound to be quite authentic. Our personal favorite track is the mysterious “You and Eyes”, which in turn is one of the longest, and most epic, track of the album.

Allowing the listener to fully immerse into their atmosphere, we love tracks like “Radio Aquarius” and “Return to Hallucinate”, which feature very free-form style music and excellent use of vocal samples. We also enjoy how the band’s sound is getting more and more accessible, with songs like “(Here Comes) The Rainbow Mouth”, and its very approachable vibe and style. Slowly evolving over the years, the listener can notice and greatly appreciate the maturity and direction of this release.

Saving the most mysterious and groovy track for last, “Anyway the Minds Flow” perfectly unleashes brilliantly layered synths, playful guitar leads, and an intoxicating bass guitar line greatly complementing the catchy percussions. Overall, “The Horse and Other Weird Tales” is a very good release that further enhances the band’s mystique and musical exploits. If you want to listen to engaging and groovy Psychedelic Rock that is clearly stands out from the rest, be sure to check out JATO and this release.

Label: Svart Records

Release: December 1st, 2017

Genre: Pyschedelic Rock

Country: Finland