Anything Can Be Psychedelic

As the name suggests, Moon Duo are a musical pairing — the collaborative project of Sanae Yamada and partner Ripley Johnson. The latter is best known for his work with San Francisco psych/drone group Wooden Shjips but with logistical issues slowing progress with that band and Moon Duo becoming more prolific and popular they're able to spend more time exploring their lunar landscape.

"This will be the first time we're doing two Moon Duo records instead of alternating albums between the two bands. Wooden Shjips can be more difficult to organise and get them all together as some of them have intense day jobs and families so it is harder to organise. It's easy for us to pack up and hit the road and John [Jeffrey - drums] is young, he'll do whatever!" laughs Yamada.

"We could do this kind of man/machine thing where we programmed beats and then got him to recreate them with a human touch."

Jeffrey joined the band a couple of years ago, replacing the drum machines they used on stage and in the process reinvigorating and breathing new life into some of the band's songs.

"There are some songs that I'm way more into because we've found this other mode for them which is more dynamic than the recorded versions. A big part of it is having John, who opens us up to be dynamic and flexible in a way that we weren't before. We can play with tempo and length and explore realms on the spur of the moment, which is fantastic for us. Having John was great because we could do this kind of man/machine thing where we programmed beats and then got him to recreate them with a human touch. I was really happy with how that worked out."

Playing in new countries and in unique venues is another way to maintain enthusiasm and variety in their live performance. Recently, one such setting was the Bohemian National Cemetery Chapel in Chicago.

"That was amazing. That place just made the hairs on my arms stand up. It was a crematorium as well as a chapel so it had these walls with little glass cases full of urns with people's ashes and photographs, mostly from the early 20th century. The room was round with a domed ceiling. Very spooky but very cool."

There has been an increase in the popularity of psychedelic-based music, from Tame Impala to Unknown Mortal Orchestra in recent years. But does it constitute a scene and, if so, is it one that Moon Duo feel a part of?

"I like both those bands but I feel the concept of psychedelic rock is very broad. The idea of psychedelia is to open up doors and possibilities and not put boundaries on things or box anything in. For me, anything can be psychedelic. For instance I find some of Herbie Hancock's music from the mid '70s to be deeply psychedelic. There's this minimal synth woman Laurie Spiegel who I really like and her stuff is super minimal but amazing and I find that extremely transportive in a psychedelic way. I guess I appreciate the label for our music but I think the current scene around that concept has a very specific sound aesthetic which we don't really fit but I like the concept of psychedelia in general."