Published on Jun 18, 2021
The recording moniker of Alejandro Gomez-Leos, as Psuedo Desnudo, the outside artist plays a curious form of pop that rubs elbows with psychedelic sounds, post-punk traces, and even bluesy ideas that somehow sound both vintage and futuristic.
“Do As Kings” starts the listen and wastes no time with his retro, even jangly charm that's lo-fi, raw, and full of playful tambourine, dreamy guitar and hazy vocals. The title track follows and moves swiftly, where nostalgic pop unfolds with some spacey exploration. “Eros' Hex” continues with soft brass entering the musically bare and vocally strong soulfulness.
Approaching the end of Side A, “Mother Night” spends six minutes mesmerizing us with much atmosphere that builds into a quick display of guitar acrobatics and marching band style drumming, while “Hungarian Maria” unfolds with a hypnotic approach that even brings a carnival-esque spirit.
Side B is just as unique. It leads with the snappy, upbeat “Doctor, Doctor,” which is bedroom pop you could dance to, and “Loveless Peking Heat” is a drumming-focused moment of mysterious spoken word in a campfire sort of way that can get a bit eerie, too.
The final three tracks are among the best, and include the groovy “Dalu Zoo Hondales,” which is full of an infectious energy that's beat heavy, warbly, and charming in its unconventional presence. “Dog Bark, Not Find” then births some form of psychedelic pop that you're not going to hear anywhere else, and the languid “The Shortage” finishes the listen with a rare and rare form of songwriting you can't help but admire.
Although Psuedo Desnudo defies any easy comparison, there are moments here reminiscent of They Might Be Giants, Devo, or even Captain Beefheart. Certainly off kilter, highly iconoclastic, and beaming with creativity, the Cudighi label again impresses with their unorthodox art.