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Dr Cosmo's Tape Lab — Beyond the Silver Sea
(Sugarbush SB014, 2015, LP)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2015-07-06

Beyond the Silver Sea Cover art

Beyond the Silver Sea is the remarkable new inspired sci-fi concept LP by Glascow band Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab. Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab is the mash-up of two psych-pop masters: Joe Kane (Them Beatles and The Owsley Sunshine) and Stuart Kidd (BMX Bandits and The Wellgreen). There is a third guy in their photos wearing a crow’s head mask, but not sure if he is in the band or not. They have been playing together now for about two years. Beyond the Silver Sea is much more than merely a collection of psych-pop tunes, nor is it a rock opera, or what you would normally think of as a concept album. It is an immersive experience that takes you on a 43-minute journey through a variety of styles loosely linked by a Sci-Fi narrative with a strong Scottish brogue about our protagonist Max and his journey of discovery. Dr. Cosmo has crafted their own style with references to West Coast psych, Brit pop, New Wave, etc. I detect influences of Peter and Gordon, The Byrds, Country Joe and the Fish, The Zombies, The Beatles, Steve Miller, Huey Lewis and The News, The Pretty Things, and David Bowie. Some are more blatant than others. For example, “The Painted Birds” sounds almost exactly like Steve Miller’s “Abracadabra,” while there is only a passing reference to the Zombies’ “Time of the Season” in “Time Enough for Love.” This is a fun album with lots of upbeat and catchy songs. It is only available on grey vinyl as a limited run of 250 copies, so you may be challenged finding one. If you do, be sure to listen to the end of Side Two. This is where, in my opinion, you will hear the best songs on the album “The Stars My Destination,” “The Long Sleep,” “Space Dream,” and the album closer and title track “Beyond the Silver Sea.”

Filed under: New releases, 2015 releases

Related artist(s): Dr Cosmo's Tape Lab

 

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