There’s an 18th-century proverb that says, “March comes in like a lion and (goes) out like a lamb.” In this case, March came in like a LIZARD! Portland’s own Morrison Graves just released a new single titled “Alice”. So far, the track has been well received by critics, who have largely focused on their take on 60’s psych and indie rock. Critics have also reiterated that fans of The Lizard King are likely to appreciate this latest track. But more on that later.

“Alice” is Morrison Graves’ first release of 2026. It arrived a few months after the heavy groove track “The Swarm” made its way onto the scene. The band released their critically acclaimed full-length debut, Division Rising, in 2023. The band has not been limited to the standard guitar, bass, and drums configuration. Various members have been known to wield a Farfisa, an organ, a Shruti box (a bellowed instrument from the Indian subcontinent), and a sitar (yes, folks, a real sitar! Not a Danelectro Coral Sitar, but one you actually have to sit on the floor and play!) Division Rising features appearances by all these instruments, and it is a real treat, too. The album is full of surprises, and there are a few bait-and-switch maneuvers as well.

The opening track starts with a muffled surf number that slows down in pitch, then takes a complete detour departing from the note it left off at- a sure thing to baffle any tetrahydrocannabinol-laden brain! You might hear nods to Pink Floyd, pre- AND post- Barrett, with familiar Farfisas you’ve heard on The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. The track “Demolition Man” has echoes of later Floyd’s “Money” with guitars commensurate with Gilmore’s dramatic tremoloed strums. There are intriguing soundscapes throughout the album, and plenty of vacuumed, backwards echoes.