After hundreds hours of research and listening, I thought I’d gotten a handle on all the best psych pop from the 2010s. But then The Honey Pot comes out with a new album and I dig up another dozen albums between the band and individual members. Now I learn I’ve been sleeping on another great band since 2010. Allan Crockford was a key contributor to the “Medford Delta” sound with 80s garage psych/mod/freakbeat revivalists The Prisoners. The most well known bands were the various incarnations of Billy Childish and The Milkshakes. While Crockford mostly played bass with The Prisoners and other bands like The Solarflares(1999-2004), he began writing his own songs, which reached fruition in The Galileo 7, with whom he took up guitar and vocals.  His own band draws from the same inspirations — late 60s Who/Small Faces/Creation as filtered through the kind of garage rock compiled on countless compilations.

Through the course of six consistently great albums (including Live-O-Graphic, the 2016 live in the studio re-recording of the best of their first three albums), Crockford has demonstrated song crafting abilities a step above his previous bands, specializing in colorful psych pop that retains just enough garage rock grit. Since Crockford’s vocals are unexceptional but proficient, it was an inspired choice to have all members of the current incarnation of the band, Paul Moss (bass), Viv Bonsel (organs) and even drummer Mole, contribute vocals for the first time on There Is Only Now. The results are varied textures and great harmonies. While this is not heavy music at the level of stoner psych, it does rock with high energy, thanks to Mole’s Moon/Mooney (Nazz) caliber thwacking. He moved from bass to drums just a couple years ago — it’s odd to keep that kind of drumming talent on the sidelines.

The new album stands apart from previous albums with it’s more varied pacing. “Everything Is Everything Else” serves well as an intro with its driving, repetitive guitar riff. “Too Late” is more explosive, featuring a great lead vocal from Viv, reinforced by her powerhouse organ. With its harmonies and drum fills, the title track could fit comfortably on The Who Sells Out, with bonus fuzz guitar and a sparkling jangle outro.

Introspective psych ballad “The World Looks Different Today” slows things down, while “The Last Hours Of Aldous Huxley” investigates the author of The Doors Of Perception‘s journey to death’s door for a pretty intense head trip, the mood balanced with the light touch of Mole’s congas and acoustic strum. The chewy power pop of “Crooked Smile” is another highlight, with Moss leading the vocals. The hooks keep coming with another great vocal turn from Viv on “I Dream Of Sleep.” The album concludes with it’s longest, heaviest track “(I’ve Got Them Old) Microcosmic Blues (Again)” jolted with buzzsaw power chords, but not without the sweet harmonies.

There may be other psych albums that get more critical and popular attention this year, but the fact that the concise under-40 minute album doesn’t have a single dud inspired me to seek out the band’s entire catalog to put into heavy rotation. I can’t say that for many bands these days. | Buy