Spanish band STAY have been around for a good few years now, with four full length albums to their name and a good handful of single and EP releases to boot. Five years following their first production for UK specialist label Fruits de Mer Records they return to again offer their services, releasing one of their one originals and three cover songs on FdM’s Regal Crabomophone sublabel, and as is just about always the case with this label it is on a limited edition vinyl single.
All the songs on this single share certain main elements. We have a steady rhythm section at the heart of the proceedings, with one or two guitars supplying motifs supporting controlled melodic lead vocals, with an organ hovering on top. A classic late 60’s and early 70’s sound that fans of music from that period will enjoy immensely.
Stay’s own Mersey Dream utilize a careful organ presence to supplement psychedelic guitars in toned down wah wah mode and otherwise seeking out careful psychedelic waters, with fairly elaborate drum patterns as a key ingredient. The Fairytale’s I Guess I Was Dreaming sports a more dominating organ presence with the guitars given a more supplemental role apart from a trademark psychedelic dripping guitar solo, while the rhythm section takes on a somewhat less sophisticated delivery. The Beatles’ If I Needed Someone is dominated more by a circulating melodic guitar construction light in tone in character, with the organ taking on the supplemental aspect and with some nice raga flavoring added to the proceedings. Marmelade’s classic I See The Rain sports a more dominant organ presence again, the guitars less of a feature apart from the customary instrumental section midways that allows a light toned psychedelic guitar solo to shine.
Three perfect pieces of music to my ears and one more knocking on the heavenly psychedelic gates. Those who enjoy careful psychedelic music of the guitar and organ variety as well as aficionados of the 60’s Mersey sound should be a key audience for this fine four track single.
My rating: 95/100
