Okay, let’s just get this out of the way (if only for my own sake); Secret Circuits is the alias of Eddie Ruscha, Jr, and yes– that’s Eddie Ruscha, Jr, as in the son of Ed Ruscha. For all of the modern art nerds (like me) out there, this raises a few important questions. Mainly, what does music created by the spawn of one of the most important artists of the twentieth century actually sound like? Are there any traces of that untouchably cool style of dear old dad? The good news is, the music of Secret Circuit sounds pretty fresh, chill, and poppy, too. This is proven on Tropical Psychedelics, (the younger) Ruscha’s latest creation as Secret Circuit.
But this review isn’t about weighing the differences between the two Ruschas (that’s just an interesting after-thought). This review is about Tropical Psychedelics. You may not have heard of the new LP, or even of Secret Circuit, but this isn’t the first time Ruscha has thrown his hat into the music rodeo. Previously, he was the forerunner of projects such as Medicine and Laughing Light of Plenty. Tropical Psychedelics is a collection of tracks made after Ruscha left Medicine, abandoning the latter’s alt rock sound for the newer, fresher world of homemade electronics.
However– maybe it’s just me– but there isn’t all that much that’s tropical on Tropical Psychelics. Which isn’t to say that the LP isn’t impressive– just misnamed, perhaps? The first half of the twelve -track album, at least, feels more akin to the tinkering, vintage video-game style electro of, say, Crystal Castles. But what Ruscha does that’s totally novel– such as on groovy album opener “White Wish”– is add a whole host of interesting new sounds, like a tense, ticking beat to a sneaky, muted bass and a melodic, futuristic buzz. “Moon Life” features a rather pretty acoustic guitar peppered with lightning-quick jolts of synth– an unexpected combination to say the least.
It isn’t until we reach tracks eight and nine, “Lagoland” and “Walkin’ on the Water,” that a more tropical vibe starts to sneak in (Ohh, I get it now). The former is a fast, punchy little steel drum number, while the latter actually sounds like an easy, daydream worthy walk on the beach. The rest of Tropical Psychedelics is accented by delicate piano, carefully placed strings, drum machines, and much, much more.
Secret Circuit may have been the outlet with which Ruscha discovered electronic music, but on Tropical Psychelics, it feels as if he’s discovered it all at once. Pleasant and playful but undeniably scattered, the album often seems like a collection of ideas or samples rather than a full-fledged, cohesive LP. Regardless, it’s worth a listen, if only just to warm you up on a chilly winter’s day.
3 / 5 stars