Review: Psyché - Psyché II (Four Flies Records)

Psyché are back with a second helping of their unique sound.

You'll recall we said of the first Psyché album, "Southern Greek/Balkan/Balearic Surf rock/instrumental hip-hop.Med-shoreline version out on Four Files Records by a band called Psyché; the 'Cumbia Mahàre'/'Ophis' sound is ready for you - are you ready for it?" (see review HERE) and that Psyché' is Greek for "soul" or "mind" (as equally cleverly depicted in the artwork), well they are back with more in the form of 'Psyché II'.

It's nearly three years after their debut, Neapolitan veterans Marcello Giannini (Guru, Nu Genea, Slivovitz), Andrea De Fazio (Parbleu, Nu Genea, Funkin Machine), Paolo Petrella, (Nu Genea) have been joined by Roberto Porzio (Parbleu, Bassolino, and the Nu Genea Live Band) have expanded the sound for the contemporary "must have", 'Hurriya (We Must Resist)' (that features Ziad Trabelsi) to the space dub-out 'Yagé'.

The other guest to feature is Merve Daşdemir (formerly of Altın Gün) lends her voice to "Yallah!," a Turkish-language piece driven by Arabic-inspired rhythms; but all the tracks are great in a Batov 'next level' way.  In fact. we're told, "Built on a minimalist foundation of analogue synths and bass grooves, Psyché II moves fluidly across cosmic funk, desert blues, cumbia, dub, and jazz, treating the Mediterranean as a meeting point between Southern Europe, the Balkans, Anatolia, the Maghreb, and echoes of Latin America".

The sound of 2016 already!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: https://www.fourfliesrecords.com/product/psyche-ii/

Artist: Psyché 

Title: Psyché II

Release date: 27th March, 2026

Label : Four Flies Records

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl / Dgital / Bandcamp  

Review: Psyché - Psyché (Four Flies Records)

Sababa 5 might have the head start on middle eastern synth psyche funk so prepare yourselves for Southern Greek/Balkan/Balearic Surf rock/instrumental hip hop.Med-shoreline version out on Four Files Records by a band called Psyché; the 'Cumbia Mahàre'/'Ophis' sound is ready for you - are you ready for it?

It might be only eight tracks but that's a enough as one over the eight when they are as mesmeric as this.

If you crossed the compilation 'Middle Eastern Grooves' (Batov Records - see review HERE) with The Incredible Bongo Band's 'Bongo Rock' (Mr Bongo - see review HERE) as there's a high Hank twang factor - could Hank be the 'father' so to speak. (Ed. how did it happen that these three albums are all released on the same day on three different labels?)

There's a film/TV series that's bound to pick up on this vibe, especially 'Angizia' that's fit for a dectective show and 'Kelebek' for the love scenes on the beach (or elsewhere) whilst the title track is more out-there afrobeat-psych funk which is pretty much a constant throughout to be honest; 'Hakate' and ;Manea' are current favourites but they're all so good.

'Psyché' is Greek for "soul" or "mind" (as cleverly depicted in the artwork with the trio) and  you'll want these guys with you to get you in a happy place.

Artist: Psyché

Title: Psyché

Release date: 19th May, 2023

Label: Four Fllies Records 

Cat. No:  FLIES59

Format:  LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp