Age by Cuneiform Tabs

Where a typical work of psych rock relishes in its detachment from reality, Age by Cuneiform Tabs gazes out desperately from within a prison of dissociation, gradually accepting a life of eternal dream. Vocals and guitar produce gentle, folksy melodies, a live, raw, honest sound giving emotional immediacy to these key elements. However, immense cliffs of reverb and distortion inject distance into this otherwise intimate relationship. Swirling riffs ripple off into the vast acoustic chasm of shimmery synth backgrounds, a warm hum that at times fully overpowers the vocalist as they sonically tread water, thrashing against this undulating tide. Unlike typical baroque pop, which offers a familiar hand through its psychedelic landscapes through crisp vocals and obedient instrumentation, Cuneiform Tabs offers us a warning from within their fugue state. A life spent wandering the perceptual wilderness here feels lonely, frightening, and paradoxically confining, as the ego floats off like the last life raft on a stranded vessel.