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Ecstatic Sunshine

MusicBlog

"take it easy"

Location: Baltimore

Website: http://www.ecstaticsunshine.com/

Bio: So firstly, let us tick off what Ecstatic Sunshine are not: They're not a pedal noise/drone duo ala Growing. Neither are they another Load records-style ... (more) ADD-afflicted cartoon aggro assault unit (thank god). And they're not some kinda blissed out, roots-stretching Deadheads. They are entirely untouched by the ubiquitous spirits of Fahey/Basho/Takoma. And there's definitely no improv shred on display here either these guys play tight within solid compositions. They don't work with classic rock / metal in any immediately obvious manner either, and although there is some fiendish twiddling to be heard, neither are they a gang of Fucking Champs-esque semi-ironic virtuosos.
Now let's move onto what they are: Brief, snappy songs in which neat, trebley, mildly fuzzy guitar-lines loop around each other, fighting or fucking like tripped out, delinquent Disney squirrels here a diddleiddleiddle, there a DUR-DUR-DUR, then up they zoom up into some weird inverted Marquee Moon-meets-Black Dog melody/riff, then down the helter skelter and back off to their opposite corners for a quick hop around like wheeee nice one dudes!
It's such a pleasant change to hear some complex, instrumental rock music where the watch words are playful' and fun not to mention short. Enjoyably goofy from time to time, such as on opening track Ramontana' - ingeniously composed of genetically modified Ramones riffs - Ecstatic Sunshine smother us in goodwill, have fresh chops to share and never even skirt the borders of Annoying. STEREO SANCTITY
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