Track Review: LSD Chimpanzee // Martom
While the members of Australian group Martom met in 2008, it was only 12 years later that they would collaborate and bring their unique sound to the masses. Hailing from the outskirts of Sydney, Tomas Somera II (vocals and guitar), Chris Modderno (bass) and Martin Atencio (drums) merge the sounds of All American Rejects, Green Day and The Kinks with a soothing filter. Despite their “newbie” status, Martom is already receiving rave reviews from across the globe featured on The Other Side Reviews and It’s All Indie (to name a few). The latest release from the Aussie lads is the single ‘LSD Chimpanzee’.
Inspired by research performed in the 1970s looking at the effects of LSD on chimpanzees in the wild (published in the Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society in 1977), Martom proffers a melodic mind-melding soundscape of grooviness. It might not speak about the research or findings because, honestly, would you even pay attention to it? Yet, the effect of this languid, soothing track can place you in the hazy ambience of an LSD-affected mindstate. Not that I know anything about that of course!
Recorded with Miles Devine of Raindrop at Mindfield Studios, ‘LSD Chimpanzee’ is alluring, endearing and slightly beguiling. While the dynamic instrumentation can get your toe tapping and body swaying, it is Tomas’s vocals that give it the indie-rock/Britpop edge. Reminiscent of The Smiths, but with the “pop-ness” of Dodgy, Martom touch your heart, slide down your spine and send a few butterflies around your tummy before leaving you covered in goosebumps.