If you don’t like what MGMT or The Flaming Lips currently have to offer, then reject their work and embrace Temples. I promise you are not going to regret it.
It’s getting more and more difficult for MGMT to justify the initial hype that generated with their debut, and The Flaming Lips have been into banal stuff for more than a decade (the only thing that saves them is the ability to throw amazing live performances). Many neo-psychedelic musicians have already ran over both of these bands, and Temples is just another one in the front. T
he truth is that Temples are not extremely good, but in comparison with the mentioned bands, Volcano sounds like ambrosia for the ears. It is full of melodic songs that can easily find their place on the radio. Although we have already heard all of it with MGTM and The Flaming Lips, Volcano wakes up a certain emotion. It is nostalgia for the times when psychedelic kinds were ruling.
Volcano falls somewhere between Oracular Spectacular and Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. Powerful psychedelic synths with dreamy vocals, affluent production and rich atmosphere. The advantage of the record is the sound that was commercially celebrated by MGMT and The Flaming Lips. The crucial disadvantage is that it does not step away enough from it. Every now and then, Temples speed up the tempo. Open Air is the perfect example for it, with almost Kasabian vibe. The rest is balanced, maybe too much. To someone who does not appreciates neo-psychedelic, Volcano will sounds like a boring and slow album. In general, this is not a wrong statement, although the album holds few gorgeous melodies.
Temples are relatively new band. In the absence of similar groups, they stood out. They are not bad. They are good enough. They know how to do their job. But for some bigger success, they will have to step up their game.
