To say that we’ve been waiting for new tunes from Chicago bedroom musician turned full fledged psych rock outfit J Fernandez is a bit of an understatement. After seeing them live for the first time at last year’s CMJ, it was the one question everyone seemed to be asking, myself included. A question that finally has an answer. Nearly two years after the re-release of Fernandez’s No Luck and Olympic Village cassette EPs as a double EP via Morning Ritual, Justin Fernandez and company are raring to release their Memorize Now EP.
“Cosmic Was” finds Fernandez at his most groove-conscious and also congruently at his most straightforwardly poppy. Fernandez’s psychedelic diversions are streamlined a bit in favor of a downright dance-y guitar jangle and buoyant brass licks. The spirit of those old 70s psych bands is alive and well but not exactly imitated which allows the track to clock in at a very radio friendly 3 minutes instead of becoming one of those 10+ minute forever jams. There’s not a heck of a lot Fernandez does to through you off the rather snappy route he draws up but there’s no need to – J Fernandez has you hooked from the second the guitar enters, each other element a piecemeal addition that complements that initial guitar riff without ever displacing it.
J Fernandez’ upcoming Memorize Now EP is out October 14th on France based atelier ciseaux. Preorder for a limited run 12″ is available now.
