The Basements – “Sounds Of Yesterday” (Lost In Tyme LIT33-005) December 2023
I’m new to The Basements apart from owning a split-single they released on (Lost In Tyme LIT45-006) back in 2013. Their number “Stop Rolling” kind of went unnoticed on the flip, in favour of the Sound Explosion‘s “Every Day And Night”.
Checking out their discography on Bandcamp it appears that this renowned outfit from Thessaloniki, Greece have released two previous albums, again on the Lost In Tyme record label:
- “I’m Dead” (LIT 33-001) 2012
- “Lost” (LIT 33-002) 2016
So, I’ve obviously got some catching up to do with regards to immersing myself in their back-catalogue. Recently I was given the opportunity to listen to their forth-coming new album “Sounds Of Yesterday”, and my thanks and appreciation go out to Peris Mihos for his kind gesture.
“Sounds Of Yesterday” showcases The Basements skill and studio techniques by capturing an up-dated ’66 garage punk sound with a certain amount of ability and charm. Most of the cuts are hard-driving, fast-paced folk-janglers with embellishments of Farfisa organ and harmonica.
The background harmonies are effective and enrich the songs when utilised. Opening guitar riffs nag away relentlessly paving the way for a barrage of memorable garage punk fuzz ravers. Check out “Mary Ann” for a great piece of this particular style of Basements action.
There are a couple of mournful, desperate and moody numbers, including the stupendous 12-string scorcher “Morning”. It may be a good idea to get your tissues ready, you may need one to wipe away your tears.
Lost In Tyme press release:
The Basements return with “Sounds Of Yesterday”, an astoundingly impressive LP, inspired by the folk garage and “moody” sounds of 1966 with a right injection of vintage psych sounds.
The band in their third LP reveal a maturity in their songs and an unprecedented understanding of the real garage sound of the ’60s that very few bands have achieved in the last decades. We at Lost In Tyme headquarters really believe that this is their master work (shall we say MASTERPIECE?).
Walls of jangly 12-string guitars, those sweet Farfisa sounds and reverb drenched vocals in tracks such as “Mary Ann” (their hit!), “Dreams” and “Everything Is Wrong”.
The sound of teen angst and adolescent frustration in tracks like “Morning”, “I’m For My Own” and “Time Will Do The Rest”. While in tracks such as “Children Of Tomorrow”, “She Was Mine” and “Rainy Days” the band shows that the psych punk sounds of bands like The Human Expression are alive and well today.
Wild ’66 inspired punk
Of course, the band doesn’t forget the fuzz and screams in wyld ‘66 punk-inspired tracks such as “Sounds Of Yesterday” and “Way Back”.
Actually, there are so many AMAZING songs here that it’s so difficult for us to choose some of the 14 tracks of their LP to write this press release!
Remember all those LPs recorded by bands playing in basements in the mid ’60s (Bachs, All Of Thus, Summer Sounds) and you might get an idea.
Even their choice of covers (The Mystic “I Get So Disgusted” and The Wild Cherries “I Cried Once”) reveals their eclectic taste and their astonishing ability to master the real sounds of ’60s teen garage. The remarkable thing with The Basements is that although they have achieved with such great skill to resurrect the sounds of yesterday, they sound so fresh and relevant today.
So, get down to The Basements and enjoy the Sounds Of Yesterday!
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