"at the edge of the tongue it was velvet at the edge of history..."
The newest head trip by Purple Witch of Culver, the L.A. based project of Sarah Safaie (vocals/saxophone), and Evan Taylor (producer/multi-instrumentalist), is the cosmic, tarotic, psychedelic "Seven of Wands" and I found myself instantly falling under it's spell. Surprisingly, Evan handles the lead vox with Sarah layering in her voice in spots. This is a first for the duo and Evan's hushed, sort of monotone vocal aesthetic works here and I like the boy /girl/ girl / boy thing happening. There are a lot of half step falls and 60's psych tones as the song slowly builds to a grand conclusion. The duo brought on additional musicians including Tim Young from the Late Late Show band on guitar and Jon Schwarz (Derde Verde) on bass with Taylor providing vocals, drums, guitar, and organ and Safaie contributing vocals and saxophones.
"Seven of Wands" might inspire repeated listens like right away just to catch all the wonderful production touches. The beautiful psychedelia, stunning electric orchestration and soaring psych lead guitar splashes made me think of an amalgam of MGMT and The Flaming Lips and Unknown Mortal Orchestra inhabiting the sonic skin of artists like Tangerine Dream, Moody Blues and, of course, the Beatles. Within "Seven of Wands" I even detect some ghostly melodies that remind me of The Beatles' "A Day in the Life", maybe not exactly, maybe sideways but I feel enough of a tinge to make me think of that wonderful song.
Great track, I love the sort of dark / light melancholia, the surreal ascensions and the Ringo-esque drum adornments that make you dream deeper. Bravo.
-Robb Donker Curtius
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Purple Witch of Culver is the Los Angeles based duo project of Sarah Safaie (vocals/saxophone), and Evan Taylor (producer/multi-instrumentalist). After 10 years in NYC in the jazz and experimental underground art rock scene Safaie made her way back west to work in the recording industry where she met Taylor, whose list of credits include Bernie Worrell of P-Funk among other illustrious luminaries.
Purple Witch of Culver, gained critical acclaim with their first track.Their call-to-action debut single "Trig" was featured in NPR's All Songs Considered; Safaie wrote most of the original poem while miserable at her day job in Brooklyn several years prior, and was inspired to revive it once more during the uprising of 2020.
Safaie and Taylor explore the power of frequency via words and sonics using a <<completely analog to tape>> recording set up. They have an album coming out in the coming months. The aim of their work is to bring people together through their art: grounding, uplifting and organizing as it is so important to do so during these times of great change.
Purple Witch of Culver, Art Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Indie Rock, 4th Street recording, Studio G in Brooklyn, Sarah Safaie, Evan Taylor, singer-songwriters, diy producers, whimsy, psychedelic, "Seven of Wands",
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