Album Review Sunflower Bean - Human Ceremony

Formed at school, Sunflower Bean have been going for years, so they’re not exactly a flash-in-the-pan attempt to weave madness out of guitars and whatever else they can get their hands on. But their first work has this impression. ‘Human Ceremony’ gives in to intuition. Whether they’re ramming home psychedelic sludge in ‘Wall Watcher’ or forging dreamy melody out of lighter parts, like in ‘Easier Said’, they’re shunning perfectionism for a gut feeling.

These songs were recorded throughout one heady week, downstairs in drummer Jacob Faber’s basement. It might have taken years to form the blueprint, but ‘Human Ceremony’ works best when it’s a headrush. After a disjointed, unnerving title-track, the record discovers a zest through the DIIV-like ‘2013’ and ‘This Kinda Feeling’, all mammoth bass parts and spiralling guitar lines.

When Sunflower Bean play, they take you right back to that basement, surrounded by pedals, tripping over wires and diving headfirst into cabin fever. ‘Human Ceremony’ isn’t anywhere near fault-free, but its charm arrives when the trio get ahead of themselves. They’re the kind of band who’ll make you want to form your own.