Whilst there was a lot to draw from in previous posts covering Brazil and Peru, Chile has the most flourishing psychedelia scene in Latin America today, with a whole array of groups focused mainly in Santiago putting it on the map as one of the homes of the psych renaissance. As such most of the bands featured are contemporary, unusual for this blog, but there is also a rich history to draw from.

Vago Sagrado

A three-piece on the heavier side of the Santiago bands, Vago Sagrado add some distinct darkness to a colourful genre. The use of spoken word vocals in some of their songs has a certain element of Jim Morrison to it, going over some spacey music that draws from doom, post-punk and often present wah wah guitars. Listen to their track Alea Iacta Est below, their bandcamp here.

Acid Call

An obscure project started in 2007 at the onset of the underground psych scene by two students, they now have something pertaining to a cult following. From a bio of the band: “The Duo combines influences like Silver Apples, Suicide, Young Jazz Rebels, Sun Ra, Add N to (X), Wu-Tang Clan and Santana, creating a hypnotic and repetitive sound using mixers, cheap keyboards and bass.

During their brief career, the band did some gigs, generating lots of attention from the small circle of people who used to attend the shows.”

The duo split not long after getting some international attention, with recordings emerging later. List to Clap Ya Feet below and the other track from this record here.

Vuelveteloca

A veteran outfit, with a career so far spanning over ten years and five albums, Vuelveteloca stand out in a crowded scene for their famed intense live shows. The influence of krautrock is clear in their sound, though space and stoner rock provide for a truly hypnotic, immersive listening experience. Listen to their track Canódromo below, their bandcamp here.

Föllakazoid

Formed in 2008, Föllkakazoid have been local trailblazers and are often credited as being as putting Santiagos psych scene on the map, having gone on to start their own label to promote upcoming artists. Their music draws from a range of influences, from more minimalist electronic styles, to kraut, and heavy doses of space rock. As a Noisey article puts it “They sound like they could be the lovechild of Amon Düül II and The 13th Floor Elevators and the world is a better place for it.” Listen to their track Trees below, bandcamp here.

Aguaturbia

From a Forced Exposure review: “One of the best and most important psychedelic bands to emerge from South America. It is impossible to indicate just how revolutionary they were; but the fact that the band were naked on the cover of their debut, and crucified their singer on the cover of their second album may give you an idea. The band’s first album was recorded live in 1969 in a simple three-track studio. In a strict Catholic country… raw, with heavy rhythms, bursts of distortion and fuzz, fantastic phased female vocals (inviting the inevitable comparison to Jefferson Airplane), and English lyrics.” Listen to them cover Crimson & Clover below, their complete work here.



The Psychedelic Schafferson Jetplane

Old fashioned, twangy, bluesy psych from this solo project of Vicente Siechewitz. The songs are mostly extended instrumentals, often with a jam like feel, as reverby garage rock style guitars solo over a bass groove. Easily music that could be being played in a 60’s club or garage, this element of nostalgia is no bad thing as the music is instantly infectious and hard to tire of despite the length. Listen to the track In Margaritas With David Icke below, album this comes from here.

James Numerin

Experimental jazz, psychedelia, blues are present, but categorising James Numerin into any genre is pointless. As another blog puts it “Interesting musical views, deep atmospheres and clear convictions…Welcome are the unconventional guitars, the stranded pianos and freaky synthesizers. In this boat, there is space for everyone. No discrimination among genres, but influences very well marked.” The dream inducing track 757 below, and the left-field album this comes from here.

Tsunamis

A band discovered by Follakazoid’s label Blow Your Mind Records, Tsunamis add some serious noise to this list. With influence from punk and fuzzed up psych, the guttural vocal and pumping rhythms of their songs match the indignation of their lyrics. With topics such as borders, war, alienation and environmental degradation in their songs, Tsunamis are keeping the political heritage of Chilean music alive and well. Listen to their track In Flames below, more here.

The Ganjas

A band that can lay claim to being the inspiration for a lot of the psych groups that have sprung up over the past few years, having been playing around Santiago since 2001. Mind bending psychedelic rock riffs run throughout, but there is also reggae, dub, garage punk and shoegaze influences to be found in different albums in their catalogue. Their is a lot to explore in this band with little dip in quality, listen to and early recording of hem La Confusión (night version) below, bandcamp here.

IIOII

On the electronic side of this selection, IIOII are a two duo from Santiago producing deeply ambient music. Textured over the electronic music is psychedelic guitar melodies and kraut styled bass that stand IIOII out in their live performances, and make for dreamy music that works for a diversity of settings. With plans to do a live set with Vuveleteloca, it will be interesting to see where their blend of live and electronic music can go. Listen to their track Cuando la Calle se Asoma al Mar below, their bandcamp here.

LA Hell Gang

“A warm, melting conglomeration of shoegaze and heavy, head drone psych.. a platter of dystopian melancholy psychedelia” is how It’s Psychedelic Baby Magazine describe the music of the appropriately name LA Hell Gang. Whilst the dystopian feel certainly creeps into a lot of their sound, I would say their music also has a meditative quality, somehow alongside an impending sense of doom…. Listen to Inside My Fall, album this comes from here.

The Holydrug Couple

Being on the psych-pop end of the musical spectrum will inevitably lead to comparisons with Tame Impala, and indeed The Holydrug Couple are regularly billed as a Chilean version of them. However this comparison doesn’t really do justice to their music. The Holydrug Coupe provide a unique take on neo-psychedelia and psych-pop stylings – tracks like Ancient Lands below demonstrate the influence of the blues and even elements of swamp rock in their sound, creating what is a more varied and textured musical output. Listen to more on their bandcamp.

Fulin Lawen

A duo formed following live recordings they had done together. Like some of the previous bands included, Fulin Lawen produce beautifully ambient music, with a heavy dose of synth that goes to good use in music that is ideal to have on whilst decompresing. Their track Bienvenida below bandcamp here.

Tumulto

A band that formed in 1972, Tumulto remain active today. Forming shortly before the coup that brought dictator Augusto Pinochet to power, Tumulto had to spend much of their early years as a band playing covers in English due to imposed censorship. The influence of North American groups, is very apparent in their sound, mixed nicely with Latin rhythms and percussion. Listen to Tú, yo y nuestro amor below and the album this comes from here.

Victor Jara

One of the greatest legends not just in the Chilean musical tradition, but in the folk music tradition as a whole. Victor Jara was a poet, singer and socialist activist who rose to popularity in the 60’s, epitomising folk music as music of the people. As well as being popular amongst Chile’s youth, he would perform to striking mine workers and at political rallies for Salavador Allende when he was running for President. Tragically Victor Jara was murdered during the 1973 coup by Pinochet’s death squads, penning a final defiant poem whilst being held in captivity in a football stadium. In his time he recorded within the rural folk tradition of Chile, but also played more Cuban styles, and would incorporate western psychedelia into his work as with the song El Derecho de Vivir en Paz below. Listen to an album of his work here.

Previously featured on the Latin America post

Chicos De Nazca