Suspirians Ti Bon Ange

Rock music, when done right, will always take us into a netherworld that we never knew existed, but we always somehow felt was within ourselves. The cosmos of inescapable rhythm, in-your-face melody and words, all speak simple truths that perhaps we couldn’t speak for ourselves. Austin, TX trio SUSPIRIANS summons that netherworld with their sophomore album Ti Bon Ange. The album title is taken from a Haitian voodoo term that translates literally to “little good angel”—the part of one’s soul that holds one’s individuality and personal qualities, which leaves the body when sleeping so you can dream. It’s a title quite befitting of the experience listening to Ti Bon Ange, where listeners become immersed in sound. From the first notes of the album, throughout its 7-song, 40 minute duration it’s clear that Suspirians aim to deconstruct rock in a way that’s both psychedelic and mysterious. Guitarist/vocalist MARISA POOL, bassist/keyboardist STEPHANIE DEMOPULOS and drummer LISA CARMERON craft songs that shape-shift from part to part rather than follow traditional verse-chorus-verse structure. It’s a wall of guitars and subtle synth layers, vocals drenched in reverb and on the brink of feedback, powerful and open drumming that allows the songs to flow like molten lava without ever sounding lethargic. Points of reference bridge a wide array of psychedelic, punk and experimental sounds: Pylon, Sonic Youth, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Stooges first album, Frightwig, early Butthole Surfers, Roky Erickson & The Aliens, late 70s British post-punk and more.