It’s not unusual for an album to be described as a blast from the past. You can definitely say that about Ian Ferguson’s new album State of Gold, although that may be understating it. Ferguson has done such an effective job of capturing the sounds of the past that it sounds like this album could have been recorded in 1967.
You don’t have to listen to much of the album to hear the influences of the 60s. The title track features a groovy, psychedelic melody and the backing vocals sound a lot like they were heavily influenced by Sgt. Pepper’s. Plus, the sound seems to come at you from everywhere – almost as if you were sitting in the studio when the band recorded it. Besides the similarities to The Beatles, there is also a sound reminiscent of Ray Davies in Ferguson’s vocals. You can hear it throughout the album, but “All My Days” is a particularly good example.
There is a theatrical quality to this album. It’s easy to imagine this as the soundtrack to some movie that takes place in the 60s. “I Do Not Mind” in particular is a song that is easy to imagine in a montage of a couple in the early part of a relationship when everything is good and fresh.
“Tyrants Waltz” definitely continues the throwback theme with a melody that sounds like it could just as easily be on a Kinks record. However, the band goes even farther back with some backing vocals. This song reaches a crescendo with a psychedelic freakout that is followed by a brief silence, then an assortment of voices at the end of the song. In an interesting transition, that psychedelic freakout is followed by the most subdued song on the album. “I Fell Asleep before the Night Began” eliminates all the reverb in favor of an unplugged melody and a story about passing out before even going out for the evening. It is an amazing change-up.
There isn’t really any mystery about this album. Ferguson embraces the psychedelic sounds of the 60s and brings them into the present. There is plenty of reverb in the guitar and vocals and plenty of beats to get your feet shuffling.
