The Dream Syndicate’s new album ‘Ultraviolet Battle Hymns and True Confessions’ is out now. Throwing out any preconceptions on the cryptically titled album, The Dream Syndicate have moved well past their early Velvet Underground influences and taken on British glam, German prog and more.
Throughout this new release there’s a krautrock, Eno-like ambience with a Neu-inspired rhythmic groove and Californian sun baked sheen woven into their classic psychedelic, melodic, hue.
Lead single ‘Where I’ll Stand’ opens with vintage Krautrock electronic synths blending into a classic Dream Syndicate vibe – not unlike “Tell Me When It’s Over” that kicked off ‘The Days of Wine and Roses’ – with touches of Bowie’s opening song on Scary Monsters “It’s No Game”.
“It feels like an attempt–via the lyrics and the circular chord progression–to impose some kind of order and logic on a world that was severely lacking in both respects at the time.” Steve Wynn
‘Ultraviolet Battle Hymns and True Confessions’ features singer/songwriter/guitarist Steve Wynn, drummer Dennis Duck, bassist Mark Walton, lead guitarist Jason Victor plus their newest member Chris Cacavas on keyboards (you remember him from the 1980s Los Angeles band Green On Red), plus guest appearances from Stephen McCarthy (of The Long Ryders) and Marcus Tenney’s expressive sax and trumpet work.
When The Dream Syndicate emerged in the early 80s, frontman Steve Wynn declared that “we’re playing music we want to hear because nobody else is doing it” – he added, “I’ll comprise on what I eat or where I sleep, but I won’t compromise on what music I play”.
Both were true. The band was, and still remain, uncompromising.
The Dream Syndicate will be touring the US and Europe this summer – more details to be announced.
