Ears Wide Open: Mystic Braves

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mysticbraves

Mystic Braves are the latest darlings to emerge from the Burger/Lolipop/psych-band-in-every-garage scene, and one of the least original. Not that that matters anymore, because, it is repeatedly pointed out to us, music (or a style of music) is new if it’s being heard the first time. And Mystic Braves – Julian Ducatenzeiler, Tony Malacara, Cameron Gartung, Shane Stotsenberg and Ignacio Gonzalez – have done their homework. Their sophomore album “Desert Island” (out next week) has a lot of Dick Dale-joined-up-with-the Electric Prunes feel, propulsive, catchy, spacey and roots firmly planted in the 1960s. Those in a certain demographic will get a nostalgia attack hearing “There’s a Pain,” with its guitar riff following the vocal melody, and the late Morton Stevens, who composed the theme song for the original “Hawaii Five-O” television series, has to be smiling down from heaven as he hears the intro to “Valley Rat.” “Born Without a Heart” opens with a drum roll and gallops along with dueling organ and surf guitar. S’all cool, man, cool.

||| Stream: “Born Without a Heart”

||| Live: Mystic Braves play Desert Daze at Sunset Ranch Oasis near Mecca on Saturday. They also are the Monday night residents at the Echo.

||| Also: After the jump, check out the video for “Desert Island”: