The High Frontier

The Oakland, Calif., band Lumerians have learned to trip out in the '60s style of the word "psychedelic" and by the definitions from the '90s and the 21st century. This isn’t just a group that makes hypnotic patterns with organic instruments or one that turns up the electronics to create a wailing wall of shoegazing—it's an ensemble unafraid of creating a modern web with random electronics and even alluring narration. “Life Without Skin” is a rock-based version of trip-hop. Take away the usual stumbling rhythms and instead vacillate between solid midtempo grooves and the higher-gear motorik style of Krautrock, and you have some idea of the transformative beauty locked within these seven glorious tracks. “Dogon Genesis” and the title track play closer to Spacemen 3–like cosmic rock, but even there the group creates textures purely its own. For a bit of cool exotica, there’s "Abudhabijhab,” with its ‘80s electronic Nico–meets–Middle Eastern vibe. It’s a true advancement of sound for a band that’s been promising this masterwork for some time.