Venera 4 - Haunted Summer

Venera 4 is a Parisian quartet with a penchant for sprawling space rock and incendiary shoegaze. Whilst their discography is still very much in its infancy (just two EPs have been released to date), there's already plenty of evidence to suggest something special could be around the corner.

Debut EP Seabed Terror combined a fiery mix of post-punk power chords (Bora-Bora) with hazy nugaze (Sun); whilst 2013 follow up Deaf Hearts delivered big, FX-laden riffs (Home) and wall-of-sound psychedelia (Ash & Grey).

And it's amongst these fire and brimstone freak-outs that we find arguably the band's most notable score. Spanning close to nine minutes, Haunted Summer is an epic journey through soaring psychedelic drone. Hushed vocals enjoy explorative interplay with galactic guitar licks to forge an arrangement of genuine craft - and one of the finest tracks of 2013.

You can stream Haunted Summer, below, or visit Venera 4's Bandcamp page to download music directly.

Rancho Relaxo - Gandhi Is My Gun

Rancho Relaxo are quite simply one of the most exciting guitar bands on the planet right now. Hailing from the Norwegian municipality of Fræna, the quartet of Inge Kjetil Sandvik (vocals, guitar), Martin Schram (bass), Khalil Olsen (drums) and Ole Kristian Malmedal (guitar,organ) are responsible for some of the finest psychedelic drone rock in recent years.

Originally released in January, Happy Friday Experiment is the latest in a series of sonic instalments that date back to 2007, and the band's debut long-player Look At The Wall. Since then the band has patiently evolved its sound, perfecting the 60s-infused space rock that defines it so markedly.

Whilst comparisons inevitably land within the radar of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Jesus & Mary Chain and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, there's also something inherently singular about Rancho Relaxo. From the circular drawl of I Want You to the swirls of Crumer organ on Make You Mine; Happy Friday Experiment bursts into life with an all-pervading fog of guitars that act as a constant throughout the record.

Expect sounds akin to Spacemen 3 body-slamming The Byrds in the rasping Diamond Black and synth-led freak-outs such as the soaring, ethnic-fused album-closer Into The Night. Elsewhere, a pair of instrumental 'Intermissions' (Green and Blue), punctuate proceedings with technicolour melodies that add a genuine element of warmth.

Perhaps the pick of the bunch, though, is the extraordinary Gandhi Is My Gun. The myth that sitar psychedelia has to be twee bohemian bunkum is blown out of the water in this five-minute explosion of Eastern incantations and bulldozing guitar noise. It's a thrilling moment from a captivating album, and a band at their very peak.

Happy Friday Experiment is released via Trout as Lubrication Records. To explore more of Rancho Relaxo's music visit their pages at ReverbNation and Facebook.

Moonbell - Parallel EP

Moonbell are fast becoming one of the most exciting acts of 2012. Hailing from the psychedelic hotbed of San Francisco, the Californian three-piece follow last year's acclaimed debut EP, Figurine, with Parallel, another devastating cut of layer-rich drone pop.

Released collaboratively through Deep Space (CD) and Loglady (vinyl), Parallel opens with its immersive title track; an infectious chant laid over deep-rolling bass lines and minimalist drum loops. With such a keen focus on the rhythm section, it's easy to see why Moonbell have drawn comparisons with 90s shoegaze architects, Ride.

Elsewhere, Still Motion sees guest vocalist, Stacia Benevento, take over for a sumptuous slice of dream pop, whilst Nothing Less fires dark synth through waves of chattering reverb. It's markedly atmospheric and deeply engaging.

Parallel's closing couplet sees more synth-driven space rock in the form of Just Like Waking Up, and the up-tempo Nether Days - built around percussionist, David Paslay's breathless, explorative drum hook.

Though active since 2010, Moonbell were little known beyond their native San Francisco until the release of Figurine. In Parallel they have a release that consolidates a now fast-growing international reputation. Check them out at their home on Bandcamp.

Dead Mellotron - I Hate The Way Things Are

One of the most extraordinary records to be released during the past few years is Dead Mellotron's Ghost Light Constellation album. GLC (as we'll call it) is an eight-track romp through the very best in space rock, psychedelia and acid garage.

It's extraordinary in that - for all its brilliance, beauty and bare brutality - it's such a little-known record. This is as much down to the band's circumvention of the press (deliberate or not) as to any lack of accessibility in the mainstream music market. Interviews are few and far between and what little PR work is done seems to be delegated to that most-faithful of assistants, 'word-of-mouth'.

With their roots in Baltimore, MD, Dead Mellotron, is (live, at least) a four-piece led by guitarist, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Josh Frazier. Frazier himself though, is widely credited as being the band and the music as very much his solo project.

Whatever the case, it's some of the finest Stateside shoegaze you're likely to hear. From the soaring blur of Shame to the synth-driven bleep and patter of Heart Flutter, it's expansive, inventive and utterly compelling.

Capping off the album, is a remarkable 4-minute instrumental entitled I Hate The Way Things Are - a stellar landscape of lazer-guided loops and growling, bass-heavy feedback. This is space rock at its very best and for that reason it's our featured track (see below).

On February 23rd  it was announced the band had signed for influential British label, Sonic Cathedral. A new album, Glitter, is scheduled for release on May 7th. In the meantime, you can discover more about  Dead Mellotron by visiting their Bandcamp page. And why not, when their back catalogue can be downloaded for as little as $3 per record?

Moonbeams - Radio San Francisco

Radio San Francisco is the new 5-track mini-album from Californian psych-gaze stalwarts, Moonbeams.

A garage band in the purest sense, Moonbeams' music is entirely home recorded - and all the more remarkable for it. It's confidently produced; providing a brooding backdrop for some delicate songwriting.

Through a haze of simmering, intertwoven guitars, Radio San Francsisco is a intense exploration of distortion - melding space-rock with drone to thrilling effect. In many ways, Moonbeams are reminiscent of early Flying Saucer Attack - producing assured, yet raw DIY psych. From the driven dirge of Girl Upstairs to the hollow beauty of Want Me, these are lunar-guided melodies with added fizz and crackle.

With their debut long-player, The Daisy Chain, due for release on June 17th, Moonbeams are a hugely exciting prospect. Catch them on tour in California, this August.

For more information on Moonbeams visit Hop Skip Jump Records, their Facebook fan site, or download tracks from their outstanding back catalogue, direct from their Bandcamp page.