Australia's
Bananagun
announced their arrival on the greater psych-pop scene with the playful and rhythmically animated
The True Story of Bananagun
, which incorporated such complementary styles as '70s Afrobaeat, Tropicalia, and spiritual jazz into their lively, groovy songs. Four years later, it's as if they smoked a lot of weed and moved into the basement lounge for
Why Is the Colour of the Sky?
, a dingier, more experimental outing centered on improvisation. This shift was largely inspired by group members having scattered across the globe during COVID-19 lockdowns in Australia around the time that their debut LP was released, leading to hiatuses and tenser emotions, among other manner of disruptions. Then operating as a five-piece, they eventually reconvened at Button Pusher studio in Melbourne for minimal takes of new material by the band's founding member and songwriter,
Nick van Bakel
, applying what they called a "warts-and-all" approach. Go-go boots, paisley projections, and rack focusing are summoned on tracks like the saxophone- and bongos-injected "Children of the Man" and "Gift of the Open Hand," a trippy, anti-establishment rock jam with flute. Elsewhere,
get a little more soulful on "With the Night," a track that gets loose to the degree that it almost falls apart (but doesn't), and they take a more syncopated turn on "Hippopotamusic," an instrumental piece featuring clavichord-type keys and a lead flute. While
doesn't offer any particularly memorable tunes or sentiments, it's definitely a vibe, and at 35 minutes in length doesn't overstay its welcome despite becoming quite immersive. ~ Marcy Donelson