France native multi-instrumentalist Lionel Pezzano, who’s band Bhopal’s Flowers found its way in 2018 with the album Lovesongs & Psychedelic Tones, was well received by psychedelic music fans and the music press. Bhopal’s Flowers has released a few more records in between – Diamond Queen on 45 rpm (Hypnotic Bridge Records – USA), Alstroemeria: A Journey On Earth & Beyond (Sugarbush Records – UK), and reviewed here, Joy Of The 4th, (Sound Effect Records – Greece).
The band says about their music – “Hindu deities dancing in the sky of the American desert, psychedelic cosmic pop hanging by a thread to the star of the shepherd, the music of Bhopal’s Flowers seems to point to an unknown but familiar direction: a world where John Wayne and the Virgin Mary drive a convertible Lincoln and John F. Kennedy on the backseat greeting the crowd of angels.” The band’s style is psychedelic-cosmic pop filled with Indian sounds of sitar and washes of a Rickenbacker 12-string guitar. Guided by the spiritual science of Anthroposophy, the band seeks truth through beauty, with each song blending modal and harmonic systems in a dancing constellation of esoteric concepts. The full-length album was recorded, mixed and mastered at the Mandragore Studioin Montréal by Lionel Pezzano. Additional performers include: Blandine Pezzano-Miart (backing vocals/percussion/tanpura), Noel Pezzano (baby’s voice on “Walking on Rainbow”) and Sergio d’Isanto (drums/congas/hand clapping/backing vocals on “Joy of the 4th”), Jonathan St. Laurent (electric bass) and Antoine Marquet (transverse flute).
The title track to the album opens with the sitar. “Joy of the 4th” is about asking your baby boy “Do you feel the joy – Little precious stone?” This song has infectious beats and bass lines. Along with the string and sitar, it has a very sensual sound. As far as hearing other bands, I am reminded of Muse, of course the Beatles (a la the sitar) and oddly enough, “Goodbye Horses” by Q Lazzarus in the movie Silence of the Lambs. Go fig. Next up is “Summertime” a jangly, happy pop tune that’s written mostly in the Hindu language (apart from the song’s title).
BANDCAMP: https://bhopalsflowers.bandcamp.com/album/joy-of-the-4th
I like this song for its inspiring, uplifting vibe – meshing together musical styles both old and new. “Bird of the Tree” features an earthy, organic sound. There’s a fantastic amount of textures and layers of sound going on with this tune. Overall, this is a very happy sounding tune, with elements of easy listening tones mixed in. “Cool Symphony” has a light and airy presence. You’ll hear sounds of the mellotron (I think), flutes, the sitar and/or tanpura and extra earthy percussion. This is one of the band’s more psychedelic infused tracks. The guitar melody is quite beautiful, too.
“Walking in Rainbow” has an interesting quality about it. The bass is dry, but thick sounding, the sitar heard alongside some seagulls, I think, join in – then the drums, Rickenbacker and more sitar. Lyrically, the words are imaginative and colorful and well, psychedelic – “colored mangos growing in the fluffy snow.” On “Babyphone” you’ll hear sounds of a familiar toy from your past perhaps (?) and French words – something to do with a small cat. (I’m studying French and that’s all I could make out as of now). I’m guessing the band had a fun time recording this track – it’s a happy and lighthearted song to listen to – even if you can’t understand French.
“Sunflower Castle” is one of the shorter tracks on the album. Stylistically, it has some folk elements to it and the words are hopeful and encouraging – “never give up over the years – may love be on your side.” The beginning to “Running Wild with Us” made me think of “Shine on You Crazy Diamond” by Pink Floyd. Maybe it was the sound of the guitar and how it’s played, as well as how Pezzano’s voice sounds and the song’s overall delivery. But with that said, the band’s ebb and flow from quiet moments to more climatic ones, did remind me of Floyd’s work from the ‘70s.
“Pick Up a Walnut” features plenty of layers of the sitar and the Indian drums (aka tabla), which is what I think I was hearing. With this track, I can hear the ‘60s supergroup The Byrds, as well as the Beatles. Lyrically, this is about as original as any song lyrics go. A Christmas tree, “flowers of an ancient sun” a turntable, a walnut and vinyl somehow go well together in a psychedelic pop tune. Bhopal’s Flowers’ last track is called “Alright” and compared to the other earthy, Eastern sounding tunes, this one has a blend of indie and alternative and rock – with some trippy vocal effects during the bridge part of the song. This is a very sweet number about being with the one you love, while one of you orders pizza, with the reassurance that “the kids are alright.” A lot of great spacious, colorful melodies in this tune – a great song to end the album.
On the whole, I really enjoyed this album. It’s not something I would generally gravitate towards, but I thought it was strong, well-executed album from start to finish.
Heather Savage
