Psych rock maestros Applesauce Tears make a hypnotic return with their latest track, “Faded and Braided,” casting an atmospheric spell that drifts through pensive synth loops and hazy guitar patterns. Perfectly suited for an eerie movie scene, the track serves as a lush, cinematic journey—a distillation of the band’s sound honed over twelve prior albums. True to Applesauce Tears’ signature style, “Faded and Braided” leans heavily on dreary yet mesmerizing instrumentals, with Tama McGee lending her ethereal vocals to hauntingly repeat the title, amplifying the track’s dreamlike quality.
Craig Bennett, a leading figure in Applesauce Tears, elaborates on the creative direction behind the song, sharing, “We felt this tune best represents where we are as a band now. Nice cinematic pockets early on, with even a harpsichord of all things, and a trombone underneath. Tama McGee’s ‘oohs and ahhs’ and her calm repeating of the song title at the end are a steadying addition as the tune starts to veer towards coming apart.”
Evocative of acts like Boards of Canada or Black Moth Super Rainbow, “Faded and Braided” is complemented by a trippy, colorful music video that enhances the track’s hallucinatory vibe—an experience both haunting and blissfully immersive.