All-girl group the Bangles not only looked good, but could play up a storm as well. Usually associated with LA's paisley underground, their raw debut album is a jangle pop delight that set them on the road to significant commercial success. There's a lot to like here, with 'Hero Takes a Fall' and 'Going Down to Liverpool' both charting well.
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Around the World in a Day Prince 1985 [Paisley Park]
The follow-up to mega-hit Purple Rain (1984) confounded more than a few critics and fans alike. It still sold well, but with its blatantly neo-psychedelic bent and lush production, at the time it seemed like a mistake. It is now obvious that the record significantly expanded Prince's audience internationally and wasn't so stupid after all.
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Skylarking XTC 1986 [Geffen]
At times masquerading their psychedelic tendencies under the pseudonym the Dukes of Stratosphear, on Skylarking XTC had an uneasy teaming with producer Todd Rundgren in an attempt to revive their commercial fortunes. It worked… with the result being a quirky psych pastiche highlighted by the controversial 'Dear God'.
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Chips From the Chocolate Fireball The Dukes of Stratosphear 1987 [Virgin]
Alter-ego of quirky British new wave outfit XTC, the Dukes played classic psychedelia sounding like it came straight from the late-60s. This record combines the 1985 EP 25 O'Clock and the marvellous full length Psonic Psunspot album. Meanwhile, XTC itself was also going retro in a different way with their classic Skylarking album from 1986.
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Let Love Rule Lenny Kravitz 1989 [Virgin]
The rest of the world thought it was great, but at home in the USA Kravitz's retro debut met with mixed reviews. It is an intoxicating blend of rock and funk that makes no bones about Kravitz's fascination with 60s psychedelia. As for his cultural background he once joked, "I'm half Jewish, I'm half black, I look in-between."
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Giant Steps The Boo Radleys 1993 [Creation]
The band's name comes from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and the album's title is swiped from jazz legend John Coltrane. The group's early work is comparable to My Bloody Valentine shoegaze, but here there is a conscious shift towards tight retro psych-pop arrangements. The result should more than please most Britpop aficionados.
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K Kula Shaker 1996 [Columbia]
Just when everyone thought neo-psych was dead, along comes Kula Shaker to rock their foundations. With a blistering guitar onslaught, swirling organs, a couple of Indian mantras, a psyched-out cover full of K's and a handful of pop gems there is a lot to like about this record. A big hit in the UK and solid performer in the US. Groovy.
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Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request The Brian Jonestown Massacre 1996 [Tangible]
Stones-obsessed San Francisco band BJM pays homage to their heroes' legendary 1967 psych excursion and does it with pure class. One suspects that multi-instrumentalist Anton Newcombe has somehow managed to tap into the cosmos and find the Brian Jones vibe. The follow-up Take it From the Man! does similar with the bluesy stuff.
