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Declan McKenna sings on his third album, “I have a dreary apartment and I am surrounded by drugs. I am a danger,” and his words ring true – very few mainstream albums in recent years have captured the true essence of psychedelia like this one.
In 2015, 25-year-old British artist found success with his first single, “Brazil,” which gained popularity again on TikTok in 2022. His second album, Zeroes, showcased a maximalist glam sound, but some felt it was a bit overworked despite the artist’s natural melodic abilities. However, in “What Happened to the Beach?,” the artist takes a different approach, seemingly inspired by advice to relax and let things flow. The song has a whimsical quality, similar to the Beatles’ White Album, as it effortlessly moves from one good idea to the next. There are also clear influences from more contemporary psychedelic pop artists like MGMT, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and Devendra Banhart (on “Honest Test”).
The individual tracks on this album have captivating melodies, akin to the deliciousness of a sugar cube on the tongue. However, the true strength of the album lies in its ability to evoke a strange and fluctuating high – a more accurate portrayal of a drug-induced experience than the typical hazy reverb. In one moment, the artist, McKenna, is completely baked and plagued by paranoia, describing himself as a “cheesecake junkie” picking at his own skin on “Breath of Light”. In the next moment, on the energetic track “Nothing Works”, he is filled with sweaty euphoria. While some may dismiss his lyrics as nonsensical stoner ramblings, McKenna’s words are far from it, as he delves into themes of self-doubt and confusion. These are common struggles for an artist on their third album, but McKenna approaches it with a wry sense of humor, as seen on “Wobble” where he contemplates crying on a holiday in Tenerife: “I used to cry at home all night / now I might in the sunshine.”
Ultimately, the emotion conveyed is that of a person who is determined to break through not only their own sluggishness, but also the dominant US-UK culture that they criticize on Elevator Hum. They certainly succeed in this with their unique and detached album.
Source: theguardian.com
