Everyone's talking about The Odyssey these days, but more people should be talking about the Odyssey Cult. The band is headed up by Ethan Miller (Comets On Fire, Howlin Rain, Heron Oblivion, etc.), who has assembled some serious firepower from the underground rock ranks to bring his expansive, fuzzed-out visions to life. The first two Odyssey Cult LPs, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, were Miller solo joints, and they both materialized in 2017. Nearly a decade later, the project is back as a sprawling psych supergroup.
Today's new Vol. 3 brings Miller back together with his Comets On Fire bandmate Ben Flashman on bass. With Carlton Melton's Anthony Taibi on keys, the trio laid the foundation for the new album together. Former Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley, who currently plays with Miller in Orcutt Shelley Miller, later joined in on drums. Zoh Amba, who is currently moving in a rootsy indie singer-songwriter direction, picked their saxophone back up to skronk away here. Also on hand: Brigid Dawson (Osees), Paula Frazer (Tarnation), and Inna Showalter (Magic Fig).
The resulting music is raw but grand, melodic but noisy, familiar but exploratory. It doesn't reinvent psychedelic rock, but it sure does hit the spot. If you like any of the music these folks have made in their various configurations, you're going to want to let these tunes fry your brain, and you can do so below.
Vol. 3 is out now on Silver Current. Buy it here.
