Detroit psych/progressive rock band Custard Flux released their latest album Einsteinium Delirium on June 7 and are about to embark on a short UK tour.
Einsteinium Delirium follows the acclaimed 2022 release Phosphorus and departs from the band’s more acoustic-based approach by plugging in and turning up the volume.
Led by Gregory Curvey (formerly of the Chicago-based band The Luck of Eden Hall) on vocals and guitar, Custard Flux also features Vito Greco (guitar, Portuguese Guitar), Timothy Prettyman (bass), Nick Pruett (drums, percussion), and, for this album, special guest Andy Thompson on Mellotron.
Einsteinium Delirium was recorded and produced by Curvey at Rabbithole Studio, Detroit, mastered by Mike Hagler at King Size Sound Labs, Chicago, and features a front cover incorporating a painting by Gregory Chamberlin.
The album opens with the evergreen “Peace and Love” and kicks into high gear with “Burning in the Sun,” which splits the difference between The Beatles’ early pop leanings and their groundbreaking psychedelic period.
“Kingdom Come” leans more toward classic progressive rock, Curvey’s vocals reminiscent of Peter Gabriel, while “Equinox” edges toward to the heavier side of 90s shoe-gaze and Brit-pop evoking the bands Swervedriver, Flaming Lips, and Supergrass.
“Transmutation” creeps into the speakers with a crystalline nod to Echo and The Bunnymen’s “Going Up” (from the 1980 debut Crocodiles) while the single “Right Now Here in Time” recalls Curvey’s previous band The Luck of Eden Hall.
“Open Wide” is heavy, progressive and more than a bit playful and a perfect pairing with the following track, “Time For Me to Go.”
Einsteinium Delirium winds down with the early Genesis homage “Valentine” and closes with the epic, eight-minute instrumental track “Fat Man,” a feast of sounds with servings of the late 60’s ‘Canterbury Sound’, 70’s Prog, noisy Post-Rock guitar, and a locked-in approach that will appeal to fans of Neil Young & Crazy Horse.
