If you haven’t heard of Black Market Karma, then it’s about time you did. You see, Black Market Karma are more than a band, they are a collective consciousness of cosmic wonder and exploration. When you think of the origins of alternative rock, and the evolution of music, you can really appreciate which genres have mutated to create a stream of sonic innovations that have defined youth culture from a multitude of eras. So when you listen to Black Market Karma, you can hear the fundamental elements that have helped shape and influence musical movements, that have progressed and stood the test of time. From 1967’s Summer of Love, to the spiritual awakening of neo-psychedelia, to the slumber of shoegaze, to the murky motif of noise-rock, to the quantum leap to space-rock to the recent rennaisance of cinematic slowcore and garage-rock, Black Market Karma feels like the missing links from its ancestral heritage. It’s music that levitates from the same lineage of bands such as Spacemen 3, Jesus And Mary Chain, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Spiritualized and joins forces with a new wave of neo-psychedelic bands that have created a collage of creativity, that is free-flowing, original, experimental.
Having just finished their eleventh full-length album since 2011, Black Market Karma have gained a loyal and growing fan base, whilst catching the eye and collaborating with Pete Kember (a.k.a. Sonic Boom) of Spacemen 3 for a forthcoming release and Tess Parks whose recent track “The Sky Was All Diseased, featuring Tess Parks” will feature on the bands forthcoming album “‘Friends In Noise’, which is due to be released on 13th January 2023. Taken from Friends In Noise, is their latest single “Aping Flair”, which also features Ruari Meehan, who plays in Tess Parks band and who is also the vocalist and guitarist of Belakiss, formed with Tatia Starkey (granddaughter of Ringo Starr). As a single, Aping Flair lifts the bar and sets the wheels in motion for Black Market Karma’s next musical journey. It’s an impressive track, which has been selected by The Manc Review as their “Single Of The Month”.
Transcendental and sublime, Aping Flair (with Ruari Meehan) pounds from the psilocybin pulse of psychedelia and surfs the surges of shoegaze. It’s a mesmerising track that seduces the senses and sends you to a euphoric state of intoxication. Like all of Black Market Karma’s tracks, Aping Flair (with Ruari Meehan) instantly connects you to the past, present and futuristic timelines of alternative rock. It’s a track that time-travels into the 5th dimension of space-rock, colliding with the subatomic particles of garage rock, whilst wearing the solar flares of 60s pop. Through the singed vocals, brooding basslines and slanty strums, Aping Flair (with Ruari Meehan) peers through a paradoxical lens of post-punk, that lifts and lazes from the hallucinogenic haze of acid-rock. Like a daisy chain reaction of flower-pop, Aping Flair (with Ruari Meehan) dips its paisley petals in the wonky waters of jangly-pop whilst floating amongst the debris of dream pop.
A band definitely worth checking out Black Market Karma will also be joining The Black Angels on their EU tour starting this month.
Order the ‘Friends In Noise’ LP www.flowerpowerrecords.com/product-page/black-market-karma-friends-in-noise
As of December 6th 2022, “Aping Flair” will be available via all digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full “Friends In Noise” album (out January 13th 2023) can be ordered on 180-gram coloured vinyl from the label, as can their latest ‘Aped Flair & Hijacked Ideas’ LP.
CREDITS
Lyrics written by Stanley Belton
Music written by Ruari Meehan and Stanley Belton
Stanley Belton – drums, guitar, vocals, keys, percussion
Ruari Meehan – guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals
Recorded, produced, mixed & mastered by Stanley Belton in London
Released via Flower Power Records
Publicity by Shauna McLarnon at Shameless Promotion PR