Review: Richard in Your Mind – Sun (2011)

By Darragh|Music Writing, Record review, Writing|2 Comments

Richard in Your Mind - Sun

RICHARD IN YOUR MIND – Sun
Monday, 12 September 2011
(Rice Is Nice)

The sun also rises

It sometimes feels daunting to talk about the work of Sydney group Richard in Your Mind. They write wacky psychedelic pop music built upon layers of sounds that often seem to erupt in a bizarre conflagration of ideas. It’s no surprise they’re often described as kaleidoscopic; their music is the aural equivalent of staring at an ever-changing configuration of coloured mirrors. Sun is the group’s third record and comes off the back of the well-received My Volcano, an album I personally felt to be unbalanced, where good songs sat uncomfortably next to underwhelming numbers. I cannot say the same about Sun, which proves a more relaxed, more considered and ultimately more coherent record, one that seeks to celebrate the large plasmatic sphere burning across the sky during our waking hours. Record opener Visions begins with a loud, sustained note from Moog synthesiser, before a strong backbeat opens up a song with quasi-religious undertones, the awkward sounding bandleader Richard Cartwright signing, “A vision / forming in the clouds.” The enjoyable Maybe When The Sun Goes Down continues the worship, a giant foghorn echoing repeatedly throughout a sprawling song that signals rebirth. It’s often little moments, such as chirping birds fluttering around the background of Mountainhead, that prove the most enticing. While these are essentially pop songs, it’s interesting to hear different sounds and ideas thrown into the melting pot. Influence-wise, the usual suspects reappear on Sun (i.e. Beck, The Beta Band), but the relaxed atmosphere, particularly on New Morning, reminds one of the work of French duo, Air. Overall, this record proves to be a fine record whose sun veneration is appropriately suitable to commemorating a summer’s day.
****

DARRAGH MURRAY