Psychedelia in White, the third album from former member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Mick Harvey and longtime collaborator Amanda Acevedo, is a natural evolution from their 2023 duet debut, Phantasmagoria in Blue.
Composed primarily of original tracks, the album explores themes of mysticism, mythology, love, and loss. This project pushed the duo into wilder, more experimental territories, resulting in an album that is intricately layered and lavishly textured. The lyrics draw on dreamlike imagery and mythological tropes, whilst carrying a personal message of hope, seeing them yearn for something better and escape from the chaos of the present.
Standout moments include “Perfect Storm,” a richly layered alt-rock reverie born from a transatlantic collaboration with Canadian composer Peter McNestry; “Song for Aurora,” a glam-inflected homage to Marc Bolan built on T-Rex references and rescued from the vaults; and “The Greatest Delight,” an intimate track conjured from Acevedo’s visions of shadow people and otherworldly lovers.
Honest and adventurous, Psychedelia in White is an album that tests its makers’ boundaries, and invites its listeners to do the same.
