Astrachan is the solo project and surname of curly-haired indie rock beefcake Ben Astrachan, a self-taught analog tapehead who conjures up his special blend of starry-eyed lo-fi folk rock in the candlelit haze of Puccini’s Studio (Astrachan’s basement bedroom/workspace) on Chicago’s northwest side. Astrachan is also the co-founder of Berta Bigtoe (with Austin Koenigstein) and Astro Heart (with Ryan Gebhardt), and a tireless accomplice to fellow travelers Smushie, No Lonesome (etc), brightening stages across Chicago with his golden voice, polytechnic abilities, and good-natured boyish charm.
“Picture of Doubt” is the latest single from Astrachan, and it is a beautifully loose introduction to the colorful sonic universe the artist is crafting for themselves. The new single is a subtly jangly anthem with soaring vocals that collide with droning synths and nimble tempos to create immersive textures, forcing the listener to surrender to Astrachan’s emotional yet relaxed approach. “Picture of Doubt,” on the surface, is an explosive, moving piece of indie rock, but lyrically, Astrachan adds a layer of poetic depth to the pop-leaning tune. Underneath the infectious melodies lies a heartfelt plea, a yearning for a past that has only been kept alive by memories that are beginning to dim. The artist condenses the complexity of longing for the forgotten into a refined, palpable piece of empathetic indie rock that lingers long after the song ends. “Picture of Doubt” introduces Astrachan as a songwriter unafraid to explore the depths of his emotions, pulling out art that makes the listener feel more comfortable in their own maze of existence.
