California musician Tim Presley continues his unique interpretation of ‘60s psych-folk on his sixth White Fence album. And since he's working with real studio equipment (Ty Segall’s, to be specific) instead of his usual DIY setup, this White Fence collection sparkles. Working in the studio with Segall as a producing partner (and occasional drummer) and having Eric Bauer (Thee Oh Sees, Sic Alps) mix the final results were two ideas that pay in the truckloads. Opening with the drowsy, Jefferson Airplane–tinted “The Recently Found,” the collection soon blooms into a heavily textured, loamy, and rich thing of beauty, with ample jingle-jangle and orchestral pop (“Anger!,” “Actor,” “Afraid of What It’s Worth”), with more muscle in appropriate places (“Paranoid Bait,” “Arrow Man”), occasional Who-styled mod-pop flourishes (“Like That”), and flower-child, meadow-tripping sweetness (“Sandra”). Presley's vintage garage-punk side roars to life on the furiously churning “The Light,” and his feral psych-rock spirit ignites “Wolf Gets Red Faced.” Shadings of Syd Barrett, Donovan, and The Byrds are abundant, but Presley’s own voice is never muddied or lost.
More By White Fence
- Thee Oh Sees
- Sic Alps