Annabel Dream Reader

The Wytches formed in Brighton, England, in 2011 and recorded their debut album, Annabel Dream Reader, on an analog eight-track machine in just two days under the supervision of producer Bill Ryder-Jones, formerly of The Coral. The primitive garage-psych trio of guitarist Kristian Bell, bassist Dan Rumsey, and drummer Gianni Honey ensured their primitivism was maintained at all (low) costs. There's a lean, mean sound at work. A track like “Gravedweller” is kept primal by minimizing any overdubs and giving Bell’s guitar a chance to feedback and bend in the breeze. Where so many other bands build walls and walls of sounds, The Wytches get away with a sparse, airy sound that makes each member’s part easily discernible. “Fragile Male for Sale” turns out to be a pleading psych-blues piece. “Robe for Juda” cranks up the reverb. The big surprise is when they strip down for a ballad like “Summer Again,” where they let an extra guitar and keyboard (vintage organ, natch) track into the mix.