Words by Grey Malkin

Portuguese psych masters Beautify Junkyards return with ‘Nova’, their fifth album (and third on the revered Ghost Box label), replete with some well-known collaborators and with a distinctly more electronic bent than previous, all of which helps conjure and add new, distinctive atmospheres and landscapes to their existing hybrid of Tropicalia, psych and acid folk. ‘Nova’ also introduces new vocalist Martinez and instrumentalist Bernard Loopkin to the band, and enlists the esteemed likes of Paul Weller (on vocals and guitar on the co-written song, ‘Sister Moon’) cult star Dorothy Moskowitz (of United States of America) and Jesse Chandler (Midlake and Mercury Rev). Just as 2018’s ‘The Invisible World of Beautify Junkyards’ explored a world inspired by rustic, wyrd and acid folk, and 2021’s ‘Cosmorama’ added a widescreen, exploratory and electronic psych rock sheen, ‘Nova’ sets the controls for other another universe, one immersed in 60’s/70’s soundtracks and library music, analogue synths and illustrious influences such as ‘White Noise, Piero Umiliani, Mort Garson and Broadcast’.

Opener ‘Black Cape’ begins with a flurry of electronic arpeggios, before Martinez’s languid vocals enter, adding a hypnotic sheen that reminds one of the much-missed Trish Keenan, but also of Zdeněk Liška’s soundtracks, such as that of ‘Malá Mořská Víla’. Analogue synths sweep and swirl beautifully, the effect is mesmerising and effortlessly otherworldly. Next, ‘Dancer’s Reward’ is cushioned on a mechanique beat, with chiming glockenspiel and heavily reverbed vocals creating a pleasingly disorientating and hazy chamber pop song, a merging of 60’s stylings and hauntological electronica, with elements of labelmates Belbury Poly’s analogue visions. ‘Sister Moon’ follows, an alluring but disquieting anthem that has eerie cult-like undercurrents, a touch of the ‘Spahn Ranch’ about the reverie. Paul Weller’s electrifying guitar runs sit alongside an unearthly and haunted organ and harpsichord; each float around the hugely addictive chorus to create an album highlight. ‘Sonora’, by turn, is a lysergic and warm 1960’s Carnaby Street vision, synths chirruping and flitting around bewitching melodies, building an ever-layering wall of sound and carefully constructed atmospheres. João Branco Kyron’s recent (and highly recommended) solo ventures ‘Dreaming Eden’ and ‘Ascending Plume of Faces’ (the latter focused on occult artist Austin Osman Spare), which found the Beautify Junkyards’ mainman exploring the world of filmic electronics, have clearly influenced this latest Junkyard’s venture as well as providing a number of new avenues. And it is a most welcome new direction; ‘Here Everything Is Still Floating’ is a fine example, the tension built by its percussive electronic pulse drives the piece forward, and the spectral organ and ominous synth effects are a left field, but perfect, framework for Martinez’s gossamer vocals. Complete with a mid-song breakdown that crackles with cinematic splendour, the track itself is not only both unusual and intriguing, but also a slice of highly melodic and memorable psych pop.

Meanwhile, ‘Somersault’s comforting melancholy rests upon echoing BBC Radiophonic Workshop-style synth melodies and electronic strings, with harp notes cascading amongst the deceptively lounge-like, easy listening textures and layers. The effect is not unlike seeing the ghost of 60s London through a slightly distorted and cracked mirror; a spooked ‘Last Night In Soho’ vision. ‘Groundstar’ is next, a sublime instrumental reminiscent of Paddy Kingsland or Delia Derbyshire with mellotron-hued woodwind and jittery keyboards, sounding like a soundtrack for a psychotronic ghost story that was never filmed. ‘Orbit’ takes a colder, though equally arresting turn, albeit with a funk-tinged bassline and flanged, cosmiche vocals, like imaging Can if they arrived from the distant future. ‘Turn The Tide’ is a delirious cry for a doomed world, a club singer performing as the landscape floods, cracks and crumbles around him. At its apocalyptic finale, electronic, arctic winds wail and swoop around a cabaret spoken world section, that eventually reverberates into the distance as the world draws to a close.

With ‘Nova’ Beautify Junkyards firmly re-establish themselves as one of the most innovative, questing and immersive proponents of psychedelia currently at play. The lounge/library elements of the album and its overall cinematic air adds welcome new dimensions to the band’s sound, and continues their trend of not staying in the same place creatively for too long; they have too many ideas for that, and new places to venture to. Why not join the ride, strap in and take this trip with Beautify Junkyards?

‘Nova’ is available from Ghost Box Records from the 20th of September at www.ghostbox.co.uk  encased in a beautifully designed, Situationist-style artwork by Julian House.