Lucid Phase – The Crop

Chilled out blissful vibes resonate throughout “The Crop” proving Lucid Phase to be true purveyors of the after party. Production has a polished pristine beauty to it. Instrumentally vibrant they incorporate fantastic playful keyboards, from woozy organ to the joys of the melodica. Firmly rooted within a laid-back reggae ethos, they additionally draw in pieces of folk, funk, and rock into a psychedelic sheen. Space matters a great deal for these tracks seem to waft up the air in vast plumes of smoke. Lyrics further emphasize this dreamy surreal ethos. The storytelling that emerges draws from a life lived to the fullest, exploring family, relationships, the joy of togetherness, and a whole plethora of those small yet meaningful moments that define a person.
References abound throughout the whole of the album. Heavy usage of the melodica along with their graceful utilization of it recall that great the powerful sound of Augustus Pablo. Dub elements ride throughout the entire album making it work best as a coherent, fully realized whole akin to King Tubby’s joyous grooves. Everything about it takes its time making sure the atmosphere is just right. From the soothing melodies that wash over the whole thing to the effortless way melody and groove become one further adds to the album’s allure. Vocals too have their gentle disposition. They stay true to the roots sound throughout making the album best when experienced as a singular whole.
“The Crop” opens things on a high note. Guitars have a lilting spirit to them with a slight hint of jazz mixed in with the summery heat. Low slung funk intermingles on the echoed rhythms of “What Happened”. On “Xander” Lucid Phase embarks on a fantastic journey, with the usage of strings, echo, and reverb giving the whole thing a surprisingly tender tone. Wonderfully heavy bass anchors “Spacial Dub”. A hint of triumph reigns supreme on the defiant spirit of “Fire on the Mountain”. Hope defines “Wake Up” as the optimism that pours through the lyrics feels heartfelt. “Melting Paradise (feat. Kings and Comrades)” dives headfirst into a communal headspace.
Bright and airy “Your Island” serves as the highlight of the album. Glowing melodies intermingle with the shuffling tempo making it a deeply moving piece of art. Sprawling and spacious “DubTropic” incorporates layer upon layer of sound into a heady mix. Things get stripped down to the essentials on the magical “Sweet Embrace”. “Jack of Hearts” has a quiet celebratory quality to it. Neatly closing out the album is the lovely “Right Time”.
Lucid Phase explores a beautiful kaleidoscope of sonic colors with the soothing “The Crop”.