Aura Blaze - Open-Mindedness

Although Aura Blaze's music is labeled psychedelic rock/Dream Pop, its three-song Open-Mindedness EP draws heavily on '80s pop music. It may not be what you expect, given this labeling, but it's nevertheless high-quality music.

With its choir of backing vocals, the album's title track sounds a little like the UK act ABC. While not as obsessed with romantic lyrics as that group is, the song's sound still takes you back to the heyday of bright, MTV music videos. Next, "The Summer Solstice" works in a touch of jangle rock. It features a hopefully positive lyric, which sounds a little bit like a '60s hippie anthem. A tad cliched, perhaps, but it still works. The project's last track is "The Only One I Know," which is a cover of The Charlatans. It's also the release's best track. Before finding out this was a song from The Charlatans, my first thought was that it sure sounded like The Stone Roses. It has one of those propulsive soul-rock grooves that made The Stone Roses so beloved. Having not heard the original, this recording certainly features Aura Blaze at their best.

Perhaps other Aura Blaze music is more psychedelic and dream-poppy. That takes nothing away from these three recordings, which are extremely good.

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