william tyler & the impossible truth – secret stratosphere

Psychedelia is always at risk of either getting lost in the abstract or enclosing itself in a single mind. ‘Secret Stratosphere’ starts on the open road. The steel of William Tyler’s guitar then draws a line from Nashville, through LA, then up to the stars. It’s a testament to the players’ range that they’ve made a live, road trip album probing enough to brush the astral. Their virtuosity is puppeteered by a sense of wonder and avoids any self-aggrandizing peacocking. Some listeners will find this record flat – if it finds you on a long journey someplace, I think it’ll click.

23/30

A favourite: ‘Area Code 601’