Daughters of the Sun - Rings

Daughters of the Sun
Rings (Modern Radio, 2009)
Grade: B+

Download: Daughters of the Sun - "Gong the Divider"

Short Take: If can buy only one album this year with fifteen minutes of field recordings from India, make it this one.

Long Take: And therein lies both the problem and the . After 2007's masterful, sorely underrated confection of pop-psychedelia Visions of the Ocean Head, the MPLS-based quartet have done what any reasonably forward-thinking would do: experiment further with their sound, and with more open-ended song structures. At first, the lack of another "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board" or "4am Astral Projector" seems disappointing.

But at its best, Rings is the kind of adventurous second album whose pleasures slowly reveal themselves over multiple listens, especially the ethereal soundscapes of "Right On" and "Meditations." Of course, some artistic diversions are better than others (have I mentioned the 15 minute field recordings yet?). Still, by the time that the closing title track reaches its rousing climax, Daughters of the Sun have more than proven themselves to worth successors to the psychedelic throne.

The record release party for Rings is tonight at the Hexagon Bar. Opening are Vampire Hands and Leisure Birds.

Daughters of the Sun MySpace Page

(Jon Graef)

New Daughters of the Sun - "The Long Way" (Excerpt)

Rings, the upcoming sophomore album from modern psychedelic quartet Daughters of The Sun, has already seen one song released from it, the poppy "Gong The Divider", but recently, the band gave listeners a taste of a more open-ended, less structured song from the record. The group posted an excerpt on new song "The Long Way" on their MySpace page. Wordless, the song showcases the band's more epic, experimental side, as the song is reminscent of an incantation. Listen to it at their MySpace Page.

Daughters of the Sun MySpace Page

(Jon Graef)

New Daughters of the Sun - "Gong The Divider"

Download: Daughters of the Sun - "Gong the Divider"

Easily, one of the most eagerly anticipated albums on my part is the new album from MPLS psych-freakout experts Daughters of The Sun, whose 2007 release, Visions of the Ocean Head, was one of my favorites of that year. Listeners got a sneak peak of their new LP, titled Rings, last fall, when the band stopped by the Radio K studios to play all new material. Early this morning, Modern Radio, via their newly established Twitter, released the first MP3 proper from Rings, a mid-tempo bit of kaleidoscopic rock called "Gong the Divider." Upon first listens, it hasn't blown us away in the same manner that "Light as a Feather..." or "4 am Astral Projector" did, but any band and label that decides Wednesday morning is as good a time as any for a minor free-jazz sax freak-out are absolutely A-OK in my book.

Check out "Gong the Divider" at the top of the post. Rings is out in April.

Daughters of the Sun MySpace Page