Ancient Sky

All Get Out

WCR-010

Release Date:
Nov. 12, 2013

Brian Markham

guitar/vocals

Dima Drjuchin
guitar

Mike Kutchman
bass

Pat Broderick

drums

A common theme emerged among much of the favorable press receiving Ancient Sky’s 2012 LP, T.R.I.P.S. This band, listeners agreed, does psychedelic rock right. They wander, without losing themselves; they embrace psychedelic expanse without sacrificing rock’s raw power. 

Following T.R.I.P.S. acclaim, the band released the 7-inch single “Castle b/w Allegory” their Wharf Cat debut and continued that same vein of thoughtful psych-rock, highlighted by concise arrangements and powerful dynamics. 

A banner year for Ancient Sky, 2012 saw the band moving well beyond its Brooklyn base, picking up fans on the blogosphere and on the road. In November, they launched a month-long European tour. 

And judging by All Get Out Ancient Sky’s new third album, recorded again at bassist Mike Kutchman’s Kutch 1 Studios in Greenpoint, N.Y. the band hasnn’t been idle in the interim. 

With its eight songs stretched across a little more than 41 minutes, All Get Out gives its songs has plenty of room to breathe, and the more spacious textures featured on this album suit that sensibility. But it’s still a concise album, free from aimless pedal tapping and lethargic repetition. 

Indeed, Ancient Sky’s craftsmanship is quickly evident on All Get Out. Kutchman and drummer Pat Broderick set a sturdy low-end base for guitarists Brian Markham and Dima Drjuchin (who replaced T.R.I.P.S. axeman Christian DeRoeck) to spin off wandering melodies or dense, droning chords. This rhythmic groundedness favors Markham’s succinct arrangements and economical writing, and ensures that no matter how far afield the guitars meander, they remain tethered to the song’s core. 

Neither a lethargic, druggy sprawl nor a zealous revival of ‘60s archetypes, All Get Out nevertheless belies its creatorsdeliberate construction and attention to detail. The finest craftsmanship, after all, is subtle. And in the case of Ancient Sky, the effect of such seamless construction is significant. Instead of listening to somebody else turn on, tune in and drop out, Ancient Sky encourages us to indulge. In other words, they’re still doing psych-rock the right way.

Buy the tape here from Campers Rule records:

http://www.campersrule.com/products/534843-ancient-sky-all-get-out-cassette-tape-download