The Shadow Kabinet: Nostalgia For The Future

When considering a niche genre like psych pop, one can recognize the strength of a song by its adaptability or malleability. In other words, ask yourself if given a more mainstream treatment, would the song stand up to others of its kind? Since I’m not a psychedelic pop guy perse, that was my mindset when I listened to The Shadow Kabinet’s Nostalgia for the Future.

Its the first thing I thoguht of when I heard “Ladder To The Moon”, one of the disc’s most engaging tracks. The song’s infectious melody and mid-tempo bounce could have made it an 80’s hit if given a faux reggae feel. One could argue that “Ladder To The Moon” is a Police song in disguise.

Interestingly enough, the song is based on an incident outside the songwriter’s apartment flat. The girl in the flat above where Steve Somerset lives decided to jump out of the window at 3AM, landing in the street while breaking both ankles.

“Have We Got Max On Board” is another winner. It’s fascinating from a lyrical perspective and the harmonies are more than pleasing. Steve Somerset has a voice that has a comfortable familiarity to it despite the fact that I’d never heard him before.

Throughout the disc, Somerset weaves sounds and embellishments in and out of catchy melodies worthy of his more power pop associated counterparts. He creates a psych pop pastiche that is at once familiar but never derivative. Not quite as over the top as say, Dukes of Stratosphere, The Shadow Kabinet’s Nostalgia For The Future is just as engaging, albeit in a different sort of way. For those who want something a little different without giving up catchy melodies and pleasing harmonies, The Shadow Kabinet’s Nostalgia For The Future is for you.

Nostalgia For The Future is a Kool Kat exclusive release, so get your copy HERE.