A lovably misfit band of fresh-faced Psych Rockers that have almost been crafted in a laboratory designed squarely for the appeal of similar \”Jam Bands\” like King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Pond, The Murlocs and Black Country, New Road in today\’s indie rock market, Lime Juice are a band assembled globally by members hailing from Italy, London and Brighton who are making a new attempt to stand out in a crowd consumed by self-proclaimed pioneers who are insisting they are not simply re-inventing the wheel. This seemingly age-old question is begging for a new answer to be provided by the new arrival of \’Prince\’, a 10-minute sprawler of a serene new single.
A much-needed answer to the aforementioned question made for those searching for an aural adventure, the eclectic four-piece have already earned a cult fan following in Italy due to their successful cover of Brian Wilson\’s \’Love and Mercy\’ that was released in aid of Black Lives Matter, and the same audience are being primed for adoration by \’Prince\’ as the band traverse their grand plains of kaleidoscopic guitar grooves, looming chugs of bass and even touches of Arabic influences to round off the dynamic palette and stretch the influences further than before.
Pitched passionately as an almighty ten-minute showstopper in the same vein as Tame Impala by the band\’s description of \’Prince\’ via their Soundcloud profile, Lime Juice came up with a title that is candidly inspired by the hallowed retro video game \’Prince Of Persia\’, from which the single finds its name, as the exciting band explains, \”This inspired guitarist/vocalist Alessandro to including an elaborate narrative telling the story of a Prince. This text subsequently inspired the idea of designing a complex song structure following the narrative flow within the music, and that gave us all space to experiment, and that\’s how \’Prince\’ was born\”, in the act\’s press release.
An experimental ballad that would never feel out of place if licensed for the soundtrack of IMDB TV\’s \’Alex Rider\’ TV streaming series or Netflix\’s recent \’Choose Or Die\’ horror film, \’Prince\’ begins with a very spacey Synth opening that feels industrial, while harrowing vocal samples tell a distorted and disfigured tale about our titular character. Later, an ascending bass guitar riff bursts into action as a distinctly Baroque Rock undertone plays up the theme of \’Royalty\’ in the track with its medieval soundscape. As we leave the dark mood of the opening behind, Lime Juice tread in lighter tone territory as the track draws to a close. Microtonal fuzz and viacious charisma are the two main ingredients here and while it would have been nice for the vocals to feel slightly less modulated and artificial at times, it is a psychedelic serving of sweet indie rock and heartwarming \”Jam Band\” rock that makes you scream \”Oh yeah\” to the neo-psych melodies.
Blending glancing moments of serenity with a structure that – for its own good – struggles to sit still, \’Prince\’ is a memorable single that cement Lime Juice as an emerging talent that are worth keeping your eyes on. Going back to the original question, the group may likely have no issue in finding somewhere to stand out in their saturated market with their relentlessly interesting work.
Words by Jacob Braybrooke
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