What a wild, eclectic mix of genres Vol. 1 by Straight Pepper Diet is! With Vol. 1, the mysterious veteran of the New England music scene known only as “Possum” brings to the big kids table an album that’s nothing short of spectacular with a hybrid sound that offers big grooves, big beats, catchy choruses, and a plethora of punchy unpredictability to keep even the most casual of music fans enthralled.
As art, our scribble isn’t going to do justice to the stylized way the songs within are listed so bear with us and also consider that’s just one more reason for you to check out this release for yourself! Not convinced yet, well read on then!
“Moonlight Revolution” is a simmering otherworldly but worldly beats-heavy then heavy heavy opener propelled forward by Possum’s lush delivery with “Hard To Understand” providing just the right mix of ’90’s Alternative Lo-Fi as Possum’s ethereal voice cries out into the more explosive bits. “Vampire” is a haunting yet hip low end-driven ditty that launches a hypnotic refrain that’s as mesmerizing as it is memorable as the burgeoning surge of bombast that is “Sugar Glider” bouncily follows and heads towards a noise-filled almost symphonic cacophony.
“Love When We Die” is a seemingly quiet tale with a revolving riff and Possum’s falsetto leading the way before practically exploding into an emotive-filled chorus, “Lucid Nightmare” is dark yet dancey and borders on Trip-Hop at times with a looping bass drone, and later “Steal You” vaguely echoes The Faint with the way the bass is utilized.
Later still, Straight Pepper Diet covers Addison Chase with a big boom that resonates to start their rendition of “Midnight Sky” as Possum’s soulful vocals guide listeners along while “Jumping Sleep” is really something else as it experiments with this sort of spaced out Electro but embroiled in an Americana essence with these Mark Knopfler-style guitar runs throughout. Oh, and it’s instrumental. And a beastly almost seven and a half minutes long. Then we get to the end and for Vol. 1 that’s “Idols” which is just rad with those now signature killer bass tones prevalent, a repeated refrain with layers upon layers building almost in the vein of Telekinesis, and topped off by a crushing chorus. What more could you ask for in an album?
Vol. 1 is out now and available through all your most favorite streaming sites which you can find located when you click here or here. For more from Straight Pepper Diet, follow the information superhighway for the socials by heading here.