Donovan’s Brain: Fires Which Burnt Brightly

It’s nice having discs like this around to truly validate the old saying about assumptions. Who would’ve thought Montana could produce music as effortlessly mind-expanding as that of Bozeman-based collective Donovan‘s Brain? Leader Ron Sanchez counts among his neighborly helpmates Radio Birdman’s “Antipodetroi” guitar whiz Deniz Tek and Bobby Sutliff, half of ’80s smart pop team the Windbreakers. Together, they rustle up a moody-and-languorous brew of ancient-to-future psychedelic rock.

Yes, appreciably drifting, buzz-facilitating moments can be found. Witness the Gilmour-like axe work on “Broken Glass Corner”. What makes DB’s approach succeed is the thankful infusion of sufficient pop chops to prevent terminal meander (as on the appropriately jangly, Sutliff-sung “You Gotta Go Now”). The titular song cycle holds further surprises, including a cheery cameo from Roy Loney, sounding more Modern Major General than Flamin’ Groovie on “Come for the Sun”. Former Grandaddy synth specialist Jason Lytle also appears to drizzle pleasing analog hoodoo over “I Saw Your Light”. There’s a penultimate, Who-ish paean to independent record shops, “High Street Hit Man”, as well. All told, it makes for a delightfully transporting disc that will appeal equally to readers of both Relix and the sadly languishing Ptolemaic Terrascope.