8th Cloud… There to transport you from seventh heaven to cloud nine

Review: Bed Rugs – 8th Cloud

Published on May 1st, 2014 | Jonny Abrams

Big, fuzzy, psych-pop anthemry par excellence abounds on Bed Rugs’ debut LP 8th Cloud, the latest rewarding psychedelic experience to reach us courtesy of Cornershop’s astoundingly fruitful Ample Play label.

Opener “Purple Pill” – nothing to do with D12 – could be Black Rebel Motorcycle Club if they’d been steeped in melody from a young age and wound up as part of the Elephant 6 scene. Indeed the band told us of their love for The Olivia Tremor Control when we spoke to them last year.

“Trees” has an ace call-and-response section about a girl who talks to the titular botanical features and winds up dead for her troubles, “She takes the knowledge to her grave / Hope she lies under her fave” being just one lyrical highlight of many across 8th Cloud.

Prime Super Furry Animals and Boo Radleys are brought to mind when “Mark’s Ghost (Almost)” slips into sublime major 7th chords then swipes out with scuzzy riffs – there’s also a touch of Tame Impala, to supply you with a more contemporary example – and “Evening Crusade” does similarly well in twinning the dreamy with the savage.

“Shoe” is a mesmerising closer, belying its prosaic title with its entrancing, beamed-in-from-a-higher-plane wares – so characterful, exuberant and downright tuneful are Bed Rugs that they’ve little trouble teaching new tricks to old dogs.

The haze of vintage psychedelia smokes up the joint throughout, as is becoming a hallmark of Ample Play’s impressive output, and it’s no surprise to learn that Paul Butler of The Bees was behind the production. They’re another top-drawer psych-pop band, after all.

Frankly, 8th Cloud has got ‘early summer soundtrack’ plastered all over its chops. These Belgian whippersnappers are a revelation.

8th Cloud is out now on Ample Play.

BUY: 8th Cloud on iTunes or on Amazon.

Rocksucker says: Four and a Half Quails out of Five!

a quail a quail a quail a quail half a quail

Artists: bed rugs

About the Author

Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.