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Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders Release New Album Synchronous Orbit

PrevPreviousVinyl Relics: Underground by The Electric Prunes
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  • Allie Iverson
  • May 12, 2025
  • 8:16 pm

Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders Release New Album Synchronous Orbit

Jeffrey Alexander may very well be one of the most quietly prolific figures in modern psychedelic music. It’s one thing to helm a band that fearlessly explores the outer and inner realms of psych, but Alexander has done it four times over. From the mystical folk of the Iditarod in the ’90s to the experimental soundscapes of Black Forest/Black Sea, the fuzzed-out improvisations of Dire Wolves, and now the exploratory groove-centric work of Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders, he’s built a catalog that’s both deep and cosmically curious.

The Heavy Lidders, Alexander’s latest iteration, first formed in 2020 amid pandemic-induced turbulence, drawing from the fertile psych soil of Philadelphia. With players like Kohoutek’s Scott Verrastro on drums and Elkhorn’s Drew Gardner and Jesse Shepherd on guitars, the group has already built a formidable discography. Their latest effort, Synchronous Orbit, out May 9 on Cardinal Fuzz (UK) and Feeding Tube Records (US), is their sixth formal release and a potent blend of studio polish and live improvisation.

“Albums that contain both live tracks and studio tracks are early formative touchstones for me,” says Alexander. “Like Eat A Peach or Anthem of the Sun or Wheels of Fire… I love the combination of particular energies that can be captured in various settings. They are wildly different but with similar parts.”

Four middle-aged men standing facing the camera

Jesse Sheppard

The album kicks off with the “Sun Flower” mix of “Star Power,” an alternate take of a track from the band’s previous LP New Earth Seed. Rather than exploding like a supernova, the song smolders in a warm, welcoming glow, riding a mellow jam that evokes lazy afternoons and slow-motion ascents. Legendary vocalist Kate Wright (Movietone, Crescent) contributes dreamy vocals alongside Alexander, while percussionist Ryan Jewell subtly expands the rhythmic field. The result is a quietly transcendent piece that invites multiple replays.

“This is my home demo mix that was cast aside when I hired a producer for the last LP,” Alexander explains. “It’s crunchier, more ‘73 than ‘93. I wanted to get the original version out into the world.”

Next comes “Bernal Afterburn,” a gentle yet deep-burning instrumental named after San Francisco’s Bernal Heights neighborhood, where Alexander spent a decade of his life. The quartet’s interplay here is mesmerizing—guitars melt and fold into one another, creating golden, honey-like textures, while Verrastro’s drumming drives the track forward with meditative control.

“I lived in Bernal for all of my 40s,” Alexander reflects. “It was hard to leave. This particular jam had a sort of vibe that reminded me of Bessie Street and the lingering feelings of loss.”

The album closes with its most expansive track: the 20-minute “Plastistone Circle (Slight Return),” recorded live at the 2024 Milwaukee Psych Festival. If the album had already built a launchpad, this is where liftoff happens. Guest performer Isaiah Collier—one of contemporary jazz’s most daring figures—adds not only saxophone, but bullhorn and bird calls to the mix. His presence injects an otherworldly vitality into an already wild journey, pushing the ensemble into new and ecstatic terrain.

“I met [Collier] in person for the first time about five minutes before we went on stage,” Alexander says. “But he was feeling it—we all were—and the collective improvisation at this performance was really special. It was an honor to perform with him.”

Synchronous Orbit is the sound of seasoned cosmic travelers syncing up once more, transmitting psychic frequencies from orbit to earth. Whether you’re chasing bliss in your headphones or navigating strange new tripways, Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders offer a vessel worth boarding.

They’re currently on tour in the UK, and with Synchronous Orbit now in the ether, there’s no telling how far they’ll go next. One thing’s for certain—wherever they land, the journey will be far out.

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1 thought on “Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders Release New Album Synchronous Orbit”

  1. JC Gabardo
    May 13, 2025 at 12:50 pm

    Sunny Trip☀️

    Reply

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