Review: Lichens – The Psychic Nature of Being

A three-song set of haunted acoustic skeletons and dreamy, mid-fi synth-drones from Robert Lowe of 90 Day Men and Touch and Go critical darlings TV On The Radio. Lowe’s spare guitar patterns can feel Faheyesque but the record’s most captivating and engrossing moments belong to its pulsing Minimalist landscapes and vaguely menacing collection of found sounds. In the closing moments of “You Are Excrement, You Can Turn Yourself Into Gold,” as the world fades to a fuzzy background, even the cling and clatter of a hollow bell disarms you. – Punk Planet, May/June 2006

About the author

Justin Vellucci is a staff writer for PopMatters, Spectrum Culture, and MusicTAP, a contributor to Pittsburgh Current, and a former staffer for Popdose, Punk Planet and Delusions of Adequacy. His music writing has appeared in national magazines such as American Songwriter, alt-pubs like The Brooklyn Rail, Pittsburgh CityPaper and San Diego CityBeat, blogs Swordfish, Punksburgh and Linoleum, and the Gannett magazine Jetty. He lives in Pittsburgh.