It was a hot summer evening in Adelaide for a night of psychedelia, with four bands on the bill at the Cranker (Crown and Anchor Hotel). Local outfits Night Rites, Thunder Speaks and Sons of Zöku supported the highly anticipated Japanese Krautrock band MINAMI DEUTSCH, making their debut in Adelaide. Outside, the closed off Rundle Street was alive with revellers, attending both Womadelaide and many other Fringe events.
The Night Rites trio have a sound reminiscent of early Pink Floyd with a sense of us journeying into other worlds. Their use of reverb for vocals and a bank of fuzz and distortion pedals gives the sound an solid expression. It's easy to get lost in the droning waves of energy and emotion, with a loose feel that is somehow still all tied together. Their music is available on bandcamp, and a physical album is said to be in the works.
If Night Rites took us to the moon, Thunder Speaks bought us back down to earth and deep within the hot dark caverns of the planet. The sound is solid, dark and doom-laden, without becoming morbid or gloomy. In a way it could be what it's like to visit under a volcano. There are plenty of light riffs that keep the overall feel of the set balanced. An enjoyable complementary set to the openers.
Sons of Zöku are well known in the local music scene, having released the album Sün in 2021 just released Ëndlëss. The Adelaide 6-piece create music that is Eastern influenced. If we are to speak in metaphors, then Sons of Zöku are the jet boat transporting us to our tropical paradise. Listening to their music becomes almost a mystical experience, as the music is trance-like and progressive. It is still full of fuzz and repetition, but the use of bongos, keys and sitar adds the middle-eastern flavour to the mix. It's light and refreshing in a way.
The audience crammed into the back room of the Cranker were eagerly anticipating the Japanese four-piece, Minami Deutsch. Their sound is influenced by both their love for Krautrock legends such as Can and Neu!, as well as the band members being self-professed "repetition freaks" who love minimal techno. The alt-rock style of music is best described as like jumping in a big old Cadillac and driving through the desert, Gonzo style. It's fast, brash, loud and full of reverb and fuzz. The floor is almost completely covered in guitar pedals, shaping the sounds in ways that defy description. A solid set that left the audience oddly sated, but still wanting more. There were many comments about how good it was that an international act took time to include Adelaide in their tour schedule, and the band seemed to appreciate the support as well. Overall, a fantastic night of alternative psychedelic music that will be warmly remembered by all.