Psychic Lines Announce Fifth Studio Album “Sunset on Sunset”
Psychic Lines Announce Fifth Studio Album “Sunset on Sunset”
Brooklyn-based psych-pop trio Psychic Lines is set to release their fifth studio album, Sunset on Sunset, on August 23, 2024. The band has released two new tracks, “Mind Control,” accompanied by a hand-drawn video, and “LA in My Mind”.
Sunset on Sunset marks a departure from Psychic Lines’ previous work, both in sound and lyrical content. Lead singer-songwriter Phil Jacob explains that the album explores the delusions people hold onto, which are often shaped by social media, film, and television. These illusions provide hope but can also lead to disappointment when reality falls short. The album delves into themes of escapism and the narratives we create to navigate a rapidly changing world. Jacob reflects, “To bridge the gap between expectation and reality, we deceive ourselves further, seeking solace in the same myths that initially misled us.” This exploration of self-deception and coping mechanisms forms the backdrop for the album’s darkly surreal yet humorously wry songs.
The basic tracks for Sunset on Sunset were recorded by Charles Burst during two live sessions at Seaside Lounge Recording and Figure 8 Recording. Overdubs were added at Jacob’s studio during the pandemic lockdown, and Burst returned to mix the album in 2022. The project was mastered by Carl Saff, with album artwork created by Andrew Sax.
The track “Mind Control” draws inspiration from Captain Beefheart, incorporating rhythmic elements reminiscent of The Magic Band. Jacob notes that the lyrics focus on the comparisons we often make between our lives and the lives of others. He suggests that breaking these negative cycles requires cultivating positive thoughts and actions.
The accompanying video for “Mind Control,” hand-drawn frame by frame by Kendraplex, visually mirrors the song’s introspective themes. Jacob cites the rotoscoping techniques used in Richard Linklater’s Waking Life as a key influence, aiming for an impressionistic approach that complements the song’s exploration of internal dialogues and media-driven assumptions.
Psychic Lines formed in 2008 with the release of their debut album, Cubicle Puppets. The current lineup includes Phil Jacob on guitar and saxophone, Dann Baker (Love Camp 7, Eljin Marbles) on bass, and Nancy Polstein (Girls on Grass) on drums. The band has since released several albums, including Everything Keeps Getting Brighter in 2013, Dance, Cartoon Skeleton in 2019, and Late Nite Psychic in 2020, followed by the live album Phil Plays Wonders of Nature 7/1/18 in 2022.
Phil Jacob, originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and raised in various states, found his musical footing in Louisville, Kentucky, during the 1990s. After relocating to Brooklyn in 2003, he continued to develop his craft, contributing to various projects, including the Captain Beefheart tribute band Admiral Porkbrain and the collaborative quintet Vague Plot. Psychic Lines’ music, characterized by Jacob’s storytelling and introspective lyrics, often blurs the line between dream and reality, drawing comparisons to artists like Stephin Merritt, Leonard Cohen, Warren Zevon, and Randy Newman.
The band’s latest album, Sunset on Sunset, is poised to showcase a more mature, self-assured sound with layered instrumentation and thoughtful lyricism.
Steve DeSeve
Gallery
Recent Articles
