The Mystery Lights, the Brooklyn psych-garage quintet from Daptone/Wick Records, are back with their third studio album, Purgatory. Known for their “superior Brooklyn psych-garage” sound (as dubbed by BrooklynVegan), the band takes things to a whole new level with this release. Kicking off a US/EU/UK fall tour tonight at TV Eye in Ridgewood, Queens, with stops in cities like London, Los Angeles, Paris, and Berlin, Purgatory is sure to leave a mark on the psychedelic scene.
On Purgatory, The Mystery Lights push boundaries, blending their signature psychedelia with elements of punk, art rock, and even hints of country. Produced once again by Wayne Gordon (who has worked with Kali Uchis, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, and BADBADNOTGOOD), the record is a sonic evolution for the band. As Creem Magazine puts it, “there’s something sinewy about the way the clean-shaven guitars weave in and out of the organ’s fullness, like a train gliding through the landscape, with a rhythm section that’s Zombie-graceful.”
While Purgatory experiments with genre-fluidity, the album maintains a strong sense of cohesion, grounded by elevated musicianship and raw, earnest lyricism. Tracks like the title song, a jangle-filled psych-punk anthem, draw listeners in with a dark elation, while “Sorry I Forgot Your Name” offers a Kinks-esque earworm that’s as catchy as it is timeless.
The standout track this week is “Cerebral Crack,” an eerie, shadow-lurking number that fuses the lysergic chaos of the 13th Floor Elevators with the manic energy of The Monks. Mike Brandon’s vocals, raw and urgent, ask existential questions like “how would you even know if you lost your mind?” amid swirling guitars and explosive solos. As Creem aptly notes, Brandon’s voice “reminds me of Dan Sartin… he kind of makes me want to be young again, and also cry.” Purgatory is The Mystery Lights at their most ambitious and undeniably captivating.