Album Review: Black Moth Super Rainbow - "Soft New Magic Dream"

The experimental psych group's first new album in seven years, Soft New Magic Dream hopes to reignite that flame of past creativity and offer us some new excitement. The album's title sounds like the album itself: a watered down, safe description of a band who has no reason to try much of anything differently.

Rad Cult - 2025

Black Moth Super Rainbow have been around for nearly a quarter of a century. Believe it or not but throughout that time, they have defiantly sticked to their guns when it comes to producing hazy, mysterious, ethereal psychedelic pop music that will either give you pleasant dreams or nightmares depending on how you feel about frontman Thomas Fec's voice drenched and shrouded in vocoder effects. The experimental collective have been steady with the group's demented, cartoony image with its visuals and each member's nicknames (Fec is known as Tobacco, while other member names include Pony Driver, Iffernaut, and The Seven Fields of Aphelion). The group's lo-fi, fantastical narrative has always been a draw for the group while also being its crutch. Don't get me wrong, when I'm in the mood for BMSR's sweet, dreamy psych journeys, they hit. Fec always has a knack for great pop songwriting and craft. They've occasionally delved into different areas, like the refreshingly hip hop infused and infectious Cobra Juicy from 2012. But over the past 24 years, I think we could use some more reinvention for this group.

The group's first new album in seven years, Soft New Magic Dream, and their eight overall, hopes to reignite that flame of creativity and offer us some new excitement. That definitely is the case with singles like "Open the Fucking Fantasy," a terrific take on glossy, booming psych pop that's reminiscent of Currents era Tame Impala. It's definitely one of my favorite songs of theirs in ages and it's impressively produced too. The album's title is perfectly apt for the group's sound and it's almost ironically a pretty good parody name for the band. I would argue that the watered down, tame, and safe title Soft New Magic Dream pretty much sums up this record and this band's status in 2025. Sure, we get bright spots like the moody synth driven Mac DeMarco-like "All 2 Us", the garage pop of "Tastebud," the moody lullaby "Unknown Potion," which should please hardcore fans. As likeable as some of these cuts can be, this album is wash, rinse, and repeat for Black Moth Super Rainbow. If you disagree, I'd love to hear a strong argument. It is a toned down version of the band where much of the bombast and trickery is faded, while the formula just doesn't hit as hard as Dandelion Gum or Start a People. Much of the record results in the tired sounds we've heard time and time again, aside from moments like "Open the Fucking Fantasy," which got me really excited and hoping that this record would be a bolder, new direction. Hardcore fans who just want more of the same, Soft New Magic Dream is here and ready for you. Those wanting more from a band of 24 years who should be trying new endeavors or frankly even some different vocal deliveries (or at least different vocoder tones) won't find too much excitement here.

My Rating: 6 / 10

Favorite Songs: "Open the Fucking Fantasy," "All 2 Us," "Tastebud," "Unknown Potion"