Venetian psych band New Candys are set to unleash their powerful fifth album, The Uncanny Extravaganza. They have singular fuzzed out hazy sonics that are intoxicating and draw you straight in. They completely have the marriage of electronic sounds with their organic blend of psychedelia perfected to a T. The band has shifted personnel somewhat, with core members Fernando Nuti (vocals, guitar, synth, programming) and Dario Lucchesi (bass, synth, programming), joined by Emanuele Zanardo (guitar, backing vocals) and Francesco Giacomin (drums, percussion, sampler).
They started recording this record in late 2022, when they started writing new material. Given the distance between band members, they had to rely on their home studios to get things done. It gave them opportunities to experiment further and work on different types of arrangements for each tune. Production was accomplished with Maurizio Baggio (The Soft Moon, Boy Harsher) who worked closely with the band all through 2024, focusing closely on individual tracks. This attention paid off in a superlative suite of songs with great production. Witness the excellent first single ‘Regicide’, with its captivating hooks and mesmeric beat. Awesome!
‘Crime Wave’ is a distorted banger, stuffed full of sonic goodness with a strong melody curling around your ear drums. It is a tad murky and ominous, but you won’t soon forget its riffs. ‘Breathe Me In’ has a softer cadence, but it never leaves behind the group’s trademark trippiness. Billowing layers of sound are immediate, but it’s the stripped back arrangement that really shines here. Just lovely work! ‘Night Surfer’ is the second single, immense and cool as ice before it blows the top of your head off. The bass alone is worth the price of admission!
‘You’ll Never Know Yourself’ is another winner, with a deceptively spare sounding arrangement, and a massive hook at its center. ‘Aquawish’ is rainy day dream pop, a perfect soundtrack for my New England weather. ‘Cagehead’ is trippy post-punk at its core, with that chunky bass line anchoring the swirling synths. Wow! ‘Wild Spaghetti West’ is replete with desert mirages and tough, gritty cowboys with guns ablazing. ‘Gills On My Lungs’ is another potential single, and I am not sure what is driving the sonic tapestry they weave here, but it sure sounds cool. ‘Final Mission’ ends the record, and it’s a melancholy masterpiece. These guys put so much care into this record, and it shows in every aspect from top to bottom. Highly recommended for New Candys fans and anyone who appreciates finely written and rendered psychedelia.
