Levitation＜Splatter Vinyl＞

The follow-up to 2016's effervescent concept LP Majesty, Levitation sees the cosmopolitan psych-funk collective deliver a sweaty trance-dance rave-up that looks to South Asian and Middle Eastern funk, disco, and psychedelic music from the 1970s for inspiration. Where the latter album sought enlightenment by way of more meditative and downtempo avenues, the aptly named Levitation is an altogether different and far groovier kind of guided meditation. Opener "Paradise Drive" sets the tone, administering a combustive blend of four-on-the-floor beats, chiming guitar, and swirling synths, with the strutting "Koray" and the Motorik "Marigold" following suit, though with a bit more of a Brit-pop influence -- the band counts numerous locales as home, with England and Bahrain casting the longest shadows. Things continue in that vein -- think Stone Roses and Inspiral Carpets with a generous scoop of Tinariwen -- until the arrival of the epic "Mantra East," a sumptuous slab of progressive worldbeat that evolves into a full-on psych-fest. The bouncy, sun-drenched "Olympia" moves things back onto the dancefloor, with the hymn-like title cut, complete with a full choir closing things out on an appropriately spiritual note. Despite all of its lofty mysticism, Levitation never feels exclusive. The walkabout that served as the narrative throughline on Majesty has morphed into a full-on hallucinogenic dance party, with that journey to enlightenment now being extended to the listener. ~ James christopher Monger