Too Many Ghosts
Self-Released, 2019
8/10
The accomplished musician Woody Aplanlap returns with another installment under the Bonsai Universe moniker, and, much 2017’s Moonstream, it defies classification in all the best ways.
“It’s A Shame” starts the listen with quirky, bluesy psychedelia mixed with fuzzy, classic rock feelings, and “Beepsy” follows with an eccentric electro-pop setting.
A listen where no 2 tracks sound that much alike, “Altadena” offers hazy bedroom pop ideas, while “Crumbs” brings funk fun to the equation. “Spanish Lady”, one of the album’s most bare but impressive tunes, recruits folky acoustic guitar prowess for a surprisingly sparse highlight.
Near the end, the busy “Long Long Time” is a feisty garage rocker, and “Drunk Firefly” gets weird with video game type noises in the fleeting instrumental. “My Little Corner Of The World” exits the sophomore album with vocals from Liela Avila on the charming, almost kid friendly, psych-pop version of the classic love song.
Aplanlap has already worked alongside Lauryn Hill and Nels Cline, among others, and on his own he brings us back to the ‘60s and ‘70s with his dreamy formula where legends like Pink Floyd and Neil Young come to mind, although blurred into the unique vision that is Bonsai Universe.
Travels well with: The Flaming Lips- King’s Mouth; Of Montreal- White Relic/Irrealis Mood