Album reviews…you never have enough time in the world for them do you? The sheer velocity in which new releases hit your inbox everyday simply leaves you swimming in a sea of sound, grabbing and hoping that your chosen victim will be the one that lights up your world. Unfortunately some get missed along the way, but fear not, here at Echoes & Dust we do try to fit in as much as possible.Which leads us to our inaugural column for the psychedelic genre.

Due to the drawn out experimentations, this album may be more for the hardened Chris Forsyth fan, although for the brave new listener it does offer a unique starting point.

As any self-respecting psych fan will tell you, it is often not just about the music but also about the record labels themselves and you wont go too far into the world of psych before encountering Cardinal Fuzz. Known as The Cardinal, Dave Cambridge has been busy tripping out psych heads minds for years now with a catalogue of releases which simply defy any categorisation other than they are guaranteed to blow you mind. Martyn Coppack caught up with the man himself to talk all things psych.

Unlikely to change the way you think about music, that’s not really the point though. If you want a good time and relive some of the 70’s excitement then Crypt Trip are the band for you.

Garcia Peoples are an absolute breath of fresh hair in today’s psych scene and Natural Facts is proof that they were no one album wonders

So what is a difficult listen, can actually be at times, a true cathartic experience, and if you have the time on your hands to let these sounds wash over you, you may feel all the better for it.

Judging by current form Motorpsycho may very well hold the claim for being one of the greatest bands currently plying their trade. A sprawling back catalogue may put some listeners off, but if ever their was a place to start it could very well be The Crucible.

Making no reparations to an easy listen, it is an album which needs to be taken in as one piece. Either in your head-space through headphones, or roaring out of your speakers, each listen will conjure up a different experience from the one before

Khana Bierbood have done more than enough to prove themselves worthy of that wonderful seam of music travelling from the Far East and we wait in anticipation for further jangles from the outer zone.

The principle behind Terrastock remains and has been carried forward into Woolf. It’s an intimate event which a great deal of love and care goes into curating. Bands and artists are there not only because we happen to like their music, but because they are nice people.

There is something quite special about a Prana Crafter release, and to get this album on vinyl is a rather wonderful thing. Mastered by Chris Hardman, the music punches a hole into your psychedelic mind, and fills it with peace and calm.

An album that’s not for the casual listener, but certainly one that pays if you give it chance. The energy can overcome you at times, but when the band hit their stride they sound like the greatest free-form jazz/psych band ever.

Within all the intense noise, what you do have is an album which once again shows Mike Vest as being one of the prime exponents of psych in the UK (and elsewhere for that matter).

If traditional song structures are your thing then you are probably best steering clear of this album, but if you are after some excellent freak-out jazz psych then dive right in.

Psychogeology is one of those albums which reveals itself more and more as you poke around its little crannies. At first it seems deceptively simple, but as you explore further you realise there is some sublime artistry and craft going on

Overall though, an at times gorgeous listen which makes at times makes demands on your listening to make for an altogether interesting experience.

With a line-up consisting of members of Harsh Toke, Joy, Loom and Radio Moscow, you would imagine that offshoot group Volcano would offer something quite remarkable. What you might not expect is a full on Afrobeat album steeped in a lysergic stew of San Diego acid.

Fun is what’s missing though, and what made part of the Skraeckoedlan experience so exciting. There’s nothing wrong with this album, and the discerning fuzz rocker will find much too love.

“For me Drone Rock Records has been a hobby first and foremost so its never been about making loads of money and retiring to Necker Island a la Branson”. Martyn Coppack talks psych & the hazards of running a small label with Adam from Drone Rock Records.

From pure psychedelic freak out, to exploratory ramblings, and all imbued with a sense of communal priority to create together a work of immense intelligence, Chef is an album which begs for continued listens and deep immersion.

On hearing Windborne for the first time, perhaps the most surprising thing is that it is their debut album