It's always helpful when a band gives listeners a hint of what it sounds like in its name. Let's dissect Black Moth Super Rainbow as an example.
Black is generally thought to invoke darkness or gloom. A moth is a flying insect related to the far more beautiful butterfly (Boucher?) that's drawn to the light. A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon caused when the sun shines on moisture in the atmosphere. Rainbows offer hope and optimism. Leprechauns are said to hide their pots of gold at the end of a rainbow and Dorothy, in The Wizard Of Oz, famously sang "Over The Rainbow," a classic song of hope for a better world. Adding super to rainbow only makes it that much better. So, if we put that all together we can deduce that the music of Black Moth Super Rainbow starts in the darkness, but flies toward the light and then finds beauty and optimism in the super multi-colored phenomenon.
To see if that description matches the band's sound, have a listen to "Born On A Day The Sun Didn't Rise," the opening track and first single from BMSR's brand new album, Eating Us, which will be released physically on Tuesday (May 26), but has already turned up at some digital outlets.
Born On A Day The Sun Didn't Rise
Black Moth Super Rainbow plays trippy, atmospheric modern psychedelia with big beats reminiscent of the Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev. Perhaps it's not too surprising that Eating Us was recorded with Dave Fridmann, known for his work with the Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, and MGMT. In addition, BMSR has served as an opening act for the Lips.
As its name and music suggests, Black Moth Super Rainbow are a mysterious bunch that hails from "deep in the woods of western Pennsylvania," according to an insert included with its 2007 set, Dandelion Gum. It's a place where "vocoders hum amongst the flowers and synths bubble under the leaf-strewn ground while flutes whistle in the wind and beats bounce to the soft drizzle of a warm acid rain. As the sun peeks out from between the clouds, the organic aural concoction of Black Moth Super Rainbow starts to glisten above the trees."
Aside from making striking music, BMSR has also been known to release some stunning videos. It's latest offering is "Dark Bubbles," another cut from Eating Us. Rather than just spit out another clip, BMSR teamed with the Los Angeles-based directors known as Radical Friend to create an interactive video that allows views to control the sun, the moon and the stars by using a webcam or a mouse while a mysterious hooded figure has his way with a trampoline. I don't know about you, but to me that sounds like fun for the entire family. You can check out the clip here.
Less interactive, but no less intriuging is BMSR's clip for "Sun Lips," a track from Dandelion Gum. Check it out below and let me know if Black Moth Super Rainbow leaves you flying toward the multi-colored light or completely in the dark.