The Spirit of 60s Psychedelic Music by Subliminal SoundsThe Spirit of 60s Psychedelic Music by Subliminal Sounds

Inspiration

The Spirit of 60s Psychedelic Music by Subliminal Sounds

With a catalog spanning three-plus decades, Swedish record label Subliminal Sounds is sitting on a goldmine. Founder Stéfan Kery highlights three artists who create mind-bending psychedelic music with influences ranging from jazz to exotica.

By

Tracklib

·

February 16, 2023

S.T. Mikael

ST Mikael psychedelic music samples subliminal sounds

"One could say S.T. Mikael single-handedly started an avalanche of psychedelic music that still hasn’t ebbed out."

—Stefan Kéry (founder of Subliminal Sounds)

"S.T. Mikael was the first artist of a new line of artists that presented psychedelic music with total DIY aesthetics. Such as homemade recordings with handmade and handpainted album jackets. To this day, his records had a huge impact and influence on many new bands. One could say he single-handedly—with the aid of Subliminal Sounds—started an avalanche of psychedelic music that still hasn’t ebbed out.

The music of S.T. Mikael embodies a total sense of freedom where he can go practically anywhere with his homemade music and sounds, rather than trying to recreate something out of the past. Very psychedelic in every way. That makes his music constantly relevant. This is timeless."

Ìxtahuele

exotica samples Ìxtahuele subliminal sounds

"This jazz style was based on getting influenced by music from different cultures and borrowing instrumentation—especially percussive instruments."

—Stefan Kéry (founder of Subliminal Sounds)

"Ìxtahuele are a bunch of very skilled young composers and jazz musicians that carry on the torch of experimentation within jazz. For a time, the ‘exotica’ style was frowned upon and mistaken for some kind of ‘easy listening’ music. Which it never was if you listen to the classic works of the early 1960s.

This jazz style was based on getting influenced by music from different cultures and borrowing instrumentation—especially percussive instruments—from all over the world and creating a personal hybrid; a fantasy growing out of the composer and musicians’ minds. The young guys in this band are very professional and they have fun doing this.

Being innovative while at the same time being inspired by the music of the masters of the past. The instrumentation is therefore quite like many classic albums of the genre. If one listens closely, one can notice structures in the build-ups and drum patterns on all the recordings. Harmonically and melodically they have drawn inspiration from early Martin Denny and Les Baxter works as well as musical impressionism.

Lately, the band finally got their hands on a quijada de burro (donkey jawbone) which was commonly and widely used in 1950 and 60s recordings. Small details like that are essential for the band to develop and that’s what keeps them going."

Hashish

hashish psychedelic library samples subliminal sounds

"'A Product Of Hashish' was done on a whim to sort of get the vibe of a library album."

—Stefan Kéry (founder of Subliminal Sounds)

"A Product Of Hashish was done on a whim to sort of get the vibe of a so-called library album. Musical signatures with different moods that someone in the past could use for their super-8 or video home movies, or professionally for TV productions or whatnot. At the same time, just having fun musically in a contemporary way. Funny thing is that it most unexpectedly ended up at the top of the charts for a short while in Sweden when it came out. I guess some people were ready for it…"

Keep digging

Show more

Comments

We are unfortunately unable to offer support in the comments. If you have any questions, reach out to us here!