Coolonaut - Tales From The Black Stump (2024) Hi-Res

Tales From The Black Stump is a blast of an album from psych-rock artist Coolonaut. The album embraces a no-frills, natural production — featuring “a genuine analogue process in real time with real instruments.” The project is fronted by Shakeel, who performs all instrumentation and vocals within this throwback-friendly treat of an album. “The songs are about various local characters, politics, my own feelings of travel and so on,” says Shakeel, who is originally from Scotland and presently based in Australia.

The album captivates in its range of psych-friendly productions, from the subduedly hypnotic introspection of “Indian Boy” to the rollicking rock ardency on the opening “Fish Eye Lens,” which swells into an exhilarating guitar solo prior to the two-minute turn; the “I see through you,” hook stirs in its harmonious, dazed vocal immersion.

“The Jacket” is another highlight, finding a lovely middle ground between fervent psych-rock and lusher psychedelia. “Your Time Is Up” concludes the release in satiating form, with a scorching-hot rock passion. Tales From The Black Stump is a consistently enveloping psych-rock success from Coolonaut.