Pretty Good Sofa - “What a Mess”

Melbourne-based Lucas Pipolo, aka Pretty Good Sofa, has just released the addictively good psychedelic song “What a Mess.” Full of great retro tones and vocals, this song will leave you wanting more.

The track is built around psychedelically-tinged rhythm guitar. The trippy tones gently rise and fall as the guitar pulsates out the groove. The arrangement is given a sense of energy, force, and forward momentum as the drums make an entrance. A solid foundation is provided by the warm bass, which happens to be one of the highlights of the track as it infectiously pulses out melodic lines.

The textures of “What a Mess” are enhanced by the use of additional musical layers. Alluring flute and dreamy organ are added to gently pad and brighten the song. The sound of what appears to be a toy laser gun appears in places, giving the song a lush, whimsical feel. The song’s energetic groove grows satisfyingly as the track progresses. Over the main sections, the rhythm guitar leans into the garage rock genre with subtly more aggressive tones.

The lead vocals are delivered passionately on this track as they soar over the arrangement reaching falsetto tones in places. The use of backing vocals is subtle but they enhance the songs mood and give a richness to the arrangement. “What a Mess” is a playful and energetic psychedelic tune. For me, it bears the sound of mixing Kula Shaker and Tame Impala from the Innerspeaker era. What more does a psych fan need?

-John Michie