When you think of psychedelic music, many tropes come to mind. These could include spacious arrangements that err on simplicity, wonky melodies that bounce around like a bullet in a Kevlar room, or hazy vocals that strain through distortion or reverb. While the psych-rock genre is as ever-evolving as other genres, one can’t help but notice the consistency in which the root tropes of the genre have been employed throughout its history. It would appear it is time for psychedelic rock to enter a Renaissance period, and thanks to bands like Babe Rainbow, the genre’s future is in good hands. After years of touring, soaking up other cultures, and collaborating with fellow boundary pushers, the Australian trio returns to their roots for Slipper Imp and Shakaerator. The twisted 11-song effort strikes a delicate balance between expected psych-rock tendencies and the risky experimentation the band has become known for, hinting at a sonic shift for the established rockers.
Slipper Imp and Shakaerator is a full-circle moment for Babe Rainbow. Their relentless touring schedule welcomed a world of new influences from which the band could pull. Still, on their first LP with King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard’s (p)Doom Records, the band retreated to the small beach-side town they grew up in, leaving nothing but memories and their imagination to influence these eleven songs. The lack of out-of-band influences is evident when you dive into the twirling acid-pop and infectious funk separating Slipper Imp and Shakaerator from the band’s previous albums and their peers. The free-wheeling, sun-drenched anthems that build the tracklist are groovy, fun, easy-listening music with experimentation touches that yield great rewards for Babe Rainbow.
In an era where it feels like everyone and everything has an ulterior motive, whether they’re pushing an agenda or platforming inauthenticity for the sake of profit, Slipper Imp and Shakaerator is a refreshing piece of danceable psych-rock that doubles as an exciting progression for the young Babe Rainbow. From the funk-driven excellence of the opener, “What is ashwagandha,” to the modern electro-dance number, “When the Milk Flows,” Babe Rainbow finds the freedom to explore their lofty visions with the confidence of a well-trained mechanic doing a simple oil change. On the surface, it may appear that these songs don’t shatter the psych-rock mold, but a deeper listen reveals a world of subtle fusion work.
Babe Rainbow borrows the thick basslines of funk and the digestible melodies of pop and filters these tropes into easy-going rock music. The gentle balladry of “Sunday” and the lighthearted single “Aquarium Cowgirl” lean towards the band’s pop tendencies, while moments like the guitar-driven instrumental “Apollonia” and the hazy grace of “Now and Zen” showcase Babe Rainbow’s psych-rock prowess. The leaps in mood and tempo never stray too far from the band’s message. Slipper Imp and Shakaerator is about freedom, community, and how having one without the other may not be all that fantastic. By returning to their hometown and trusting their instincts and each other, Babe Rainbow unlocked something new with the familiar.
