Last year Magic Castles released their debut The Lore of Mysticore. It was a charming lo-fi psychedelic album with a few catchy songs, but lacked broad appeal. This year the group is back with a stellar new album Dreams of Dreams of Dreams, which is more accessible, more cohesive, and quite simply one of the best albums I have listened to this year.

Dreams of Dreams of Dreams works like a sonic time machine set to the late 1960′s. The songs are pleasant and dreamy, airy and layered. Magic Castles’ style falls in rank with classic psychedelic pop rockers the Lemon Pipers and Strawberry Alarm Clock, but maintains a slightly darker edge. The dark edge is never perceived as menacing or subversive but rather makes lighter, happy melodic moments on the album epically brighter.

The albums first song “Emory’s Dream” is an organ instrumental that is warm and inviting, like music welcoming you to a carnival. It is short and sweet and reminiscent of Boards of Canada’s nostalgic musical interludes.

The following song “Country Store” is bouncy spaghetti western music, upbeat and gritty. The lyrics speak of deadly unrequited love. What starts off lyrically cute ends literally “in shadows”. However, the entire song is fun and catchy.

“The Ones We Love” sounds like it is a product of the Summer of Love. The vocals are breathy, the music is high and uplifting, and the lyrics are carefree. One imagines hippies with flowered hair dancing in fields when listening to this tune.

The next song “Letterbox” is one of my favorites. It is pure psychedelic elation. It belongs in a 1960′s or 70′s exploitation film. The guitar melodies interweave perfectly around each other, fluttering towards the heavens. And by the end, the vocals do the same.

“Mountains of Snow” is great and “Big Sur” that follows is even better. “Big Sur” is the surf tune on the album. The album wouldn’t be a 1960′s flashback without it. The drum roll and guitar solo in the middle of the song are ripe for barreling through a tidal wave on a shiny white surf board.

“Miss You (When I’m Gone)” and “You’ll Have It When It’s Gone” complete the first half of the album. The album is creatively set up with a side A/ side B approach like a cassette tape or record. This retro technique further pushes the nostalgic factor that makes Dreams of Dreams of Dreams a truly classic album. These songs are laid back and feel like like a lull in the album if you take them out of the side A/ side B context. In the two sided context, they work as they close “side A” beautifully.

The reoccurring Emory theme starts off “side B” with “Emory’s Reverie”. Here the organ falls to the background and the percussion and guitar take the spotlight. The song is a short musical interlude welcoming the listener to the flip side of Dreams of Dreams of Dreams.

“Vacant House” starts by implementing unusual percussion with what sounds like a typewriter and rattling shopping kart. Soon the drums and tambourine take over and the keys and guitars jump in. The vocals echo lightly in the background making this one of their darker shaded psychedelic romps.

“Paint Your Face” is fun and “Life of Gemini” is childlike. “Life of Gemini” tells the fairy tale of a small guy in a red coat who lives in a tree. These fairy tale stories are a trademark for Magic Castles who on their first album The Lore of Mysticore had lyrics about becoming a cloud and created song titles like “Imaginary Friends” and “Cave Troll Blues”.

“Silver Moonlight Golden Thread” is a pretty yet melancholy song, which is another favorite of mine. Here is a sampling of some of the lyrics:

See a young unicorn…by a river of rainbow
See a dead unicorn…by a river of blood….
Dream unimportant dreams of unicorn swans…
See the multicolored Pegasus flying over fields of gold

The lyrics are funny and imaginative, to say the least.

“Mystic Sage Warrior” is the darkest song on the album. It starts off with strings and a strange backwards sound effect. Then the guitars and echoing vocals take over and whirl around the listeners, propelling them through the psychedelic roller coaster. Wah-wah guitar and feedback slice the shadowy incomprehensible vocals crawling out of the speakers.

Emory returns to close “side B” with “Emory’s Memories”. This ends the album on a high note with the grooviest tune on Dreams of Dreams of Dreams. This a danceable song you can swim, do the monkey and twist all night long to.

This album is simply fantastic and is something I have found myself listening to over and over due to its modern take on the retro sound of the late 1960′s. It is a must have for hippies and everyone else looking for a playful flashback to a carefree psychedelic experience. Magic Castles’ Dreams of Dreams of Dreams is highly recommended.

Rating: 9.6/10