Prayer-psychedelia collective The Fuzzy Robes have returned with their sophomore spiritual effort, Midday Prayers.
Pursuing a spiritual take on new wave psychedelia and fittingly released on Holy Wednesday during the lead up to Easter, the enigmatic Fuzzy Robes return with their sophomore effort Midday Prayers - a natural continuation of the group’s meditative approach to adapting the New Zealand Prayer Book, He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa for the modern ear.
Midday Prayers follows their 2021 debut Night Prayers, a strong work drawing comparisons to The Flaming Lips in their decentralised sonic landscape towards an acknowledgement of the passing day and into restful night, dwelling unafraid in the arms of God. Midday Prayers has a different focus, and balances restful pause and the momentum of midday in a complex dance - a musical metaphor for the observation of prayer in the centre of a busy day.
Midday Prayers was recorded between a retreat house in Ōtautahi’s beautiful Scarborough Hill and an unfurnished flat in Christchurch East, striking the duality of natural beauty and an urbane, turbulent existence. The new work decisively arranges beatific fuzz guitars, empyrean vocals and synth textures together to this end. The first track Invocation rushes the forefront in turbulent recognition of the Eternal Spirit, with later cuts on the album like Collect for Midday moving into contemplative devotion.
Midday Prayers is out now via Winegum Records. Vinyl records are available on Bandcamp and all good record stores across Aotearoa.