Otto Benson - Peanut (WNOADIARWB) [Psychedelic]
- The Slow Music Movement
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
*** This blog post first appeared in TSMM's February 9th Newsletter, where you can get all the tips (and more) first ***
Otto Benson leapt out of the oddball psychedelic underground at me in January, and I think I’ve timed my high five just right; and if you care to sift through his weird, wild and whimsical back catalogue of lo-fi acid folk, raw IDM, (very) alt-pop and general unpredictable sonic mayhem, you’ll probably agree.
After swerving reckless through genres for the last three years - any why the hell not, it appears Benson had a cohesive album in him after all; not that in today’s singles deluge that matters so much, but it certainly makes him more appealing to old farts like me. He’s also found his voice - a most welcome addition, and this is him offering his fellow Americans, and those looking on aghast from afar, “a place of solace, internal reflection, and mystery” in America’s crumbling social, political, legal and humanitarian landscape.
Bedroom acid-folk is largely the order of the day for this sonic, hand painted, floor cushion adorned, joss stick scented refuge. A vintage drum machine, comforting bass and lightly stoned guitar get the album off to an easy start; a perfect gateway track, especially when it starts meditating at the end. There’s a sense of urgency on “Red and Neon” as Benson’s vocals says hello to an expectant world and rather like the production and musicianship, there’s a raw charm to his affably delivered tale - he has the sort of down to earth voice you’d like to chat too after a live show. “Raisin” adds some second hand vintage synth pads to the singer songwriting, but the machine cheekily hijacks, then launches the track into mid-track ambient orbit before Benson wrests control back and lands the track to folky terra firma once more.
That dusty drum machine returns to offer structure to the well behaved guitar, pads and bass of “Soy Beans”, which together noodle along in suitably pastoral, if pesticide sprayed, laid back fashion. Inspired by the rural surrounds, “Drive Away” plans an escape from it all in earthy Americana fashion, although there is leftfield devil in the lyrical detail. The ominously entitled, “Tumor” initially wobbles along in woozy fashion, before the abnormal cells force the track into a psychedelic episode with a worryingly abrupt ending. Fortunately Benson survived the scare to hone his more straight ahead folky singer songwriter chops before the pleasantly stoned, “Catch You Later” suggests this is not the end. I hope not.
Playlist Companion
Find Benson in the Slow Psyche Playlist.
