Album Review: Psychic Ills - One Track Mind
- Written by Peri Daley
At times we feel like we’re in the 80s then all of a sudden a guitar string is strummed and we feel as though we’re in the 60s. Psychic Ills are making us feel this confused with their fourth record, One Track Mind. 
Coming away from their debut Dins, they spent a whole decade approaching different sounds. They progressed into all-night full-band exploration in a neighbourhood where noise wasn’t a problem. Although some listeners may have preferred the band’s earlier experiments, it is nice to see the New York-bred Psychic Ills keeping things moving at a time when most are simply happy sticking to what they know and just letting the scene pass them by.
Although a lot of the time the record feels repetitive, the addition of buzzing high-end harmonica on 'City Sun' and bassist Elizabeth Hart’s scraping groove on 'See You There' break the record’s repetitive haze. Tracks like the instrumental 'Western Metaphor' feel lazy, non-stressful, a track where you can hang with pals around a smoky flat and simply get high to.
'FBI' attempts to build up on the mystery with an intriguing lyrical business, but the rhythm section is doing the heavy lifting. The track 'Depot', has a much more grisly tone which is potently sexy. These tracks stand out thanks to the added funk, both blistering and blazed. The shout-along chorus of 'Might Take a While' should feel like a sinner's testimony, but comes across limp. The same can be said for Tres Warren's weightless vocals throughout.
Featuring contributions and production guidance from Neil Hagerty of Royal Trux and Howling Hex, this record is extremely seductive, with the instruments and lyrics working brilliantly together. This is the kind of music that Brooklyn was built on. ‘One Track Mind’ is perhaps the most straight-forward rock record Psychic Ills have ever made. Although it does feel like maybe they are punching a little above their weight & possibly they’ve taken on a sound that doesn’t really work that well for them?
One Track Mind is out now and available on amazon