Best Psych Music of 2024 (So Far)

While everything else in the world is going to shit, 2024 has been an excellent year for psychedelic music thus far. I’m continuously amazed by all the great stuff bubbling to the surface in the psych underground.

The Third Eye will likely do its usual roundup of the best psych of 2024 at the end of this year. In the meantime, I wanted to reflect on the first half of this year and list some of our favorites thus far.

As always, try your best to support these artists on Bandcamp. Buy their merch and music, and see them live if you can. For the most part, every dollar spent on the artists goes to more great music in the future.

Crying in 9 by Vague Plot

Brooklyn-based Island House Recordings has quickly become one of the best labels in the psych and experimental underground. And their March 1st release of Crying in 9 by Vague Plot is my favorite psych release of 2024. It is hard to believe anything else will surpass it this year.

The experimental free rock meets free jazz of Crying in 9 is some of the best improvisational psychedelic music you’ll likely hear in a while.

From The Source by Causa Sui

El Paraiso Records is another independent label that always releases top-quality psychedelic music. Causa Sui is one of the best bands working under the label’s banner, and From The Source is their first new LP in four years. It was well worth the wait. This is perfect if you dig floating post-rock mixed with Sabbathian riffage, electric jazz, groovy Zamrock, and hypnotic kosmische.

News of The Universe by La Luz

The all-female psych rockers La Luz have crafted another beautiful, emotionally rich record with News of The Universe. Led by songwriter, writer, painter, and all-around-creative visionary Shana Cleveland, La Luz is a group that continues to create extraordinary psych tunes despite whatever obstacles are put in their path.

Roseway by Jefferey Silverstein

Portland-based Jeffrey Silverstein’s new EP, Roseway, takes his signature cosmic country and adds heavy doses of funk. Silverstein has become one of my favorite songwriters in the psych-adjacent scene, and with Roseway, he further shows that he’s drawing from a deep well of creativity that seems endless.

Infinite Peaks by The Cosmic Dead

Glasgow-based The Cosmic Dead first came to my attention with Infinite Peaks, released on April 12th, and blew me away. Released via Heavy Psych Sounds Records, the LP consists of two lengthy space-rock instrumentals that reach levels of mind-bending sonic destruction that I haven’t heard in a while.

All Is Dust by Karkara

This explosive French power trio released All Is Dust on March 22nd and immediately grabbed my attention. The band mixes Middle Eastern sounds, garage rock, fuzz, psychedelia, and more into a stunning record that often defies genre boundaries and resembles KGLW and Slift.

Burning Is Learning by SOMA Kirtan

Centripetal Force Records is another label that rarely disappoints, and SOMA Kirtan’s Burning Is Learning may be the label’s best release in 2024. The LP is a collection of sacred hymns, spellbinding dirges, and mystical meandering from a group of New Jersey-based multi-instrumentalists with deep roots in their local DIY hardcore punk and heavy metal scenes.

Perpetual Stew by Junegrass

Chicago-based Junegrass served up this delectable LP full of tasty jams on March 1st, which I’ve listened to constantly. The record includes contributions from eight musicians, adding the sounds of guitars, synths, bass, tenor and alto saxophones, and keys. It’s a hell of a fun listen.

Honorable Mentions

As I mentioned, 2024 has been an excellent year for psych music. The records I listed above are just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s a list of some of The Third Eye’s other favorite psychedelic music from this year:

Your best bet to find this music is on the Bandcamp links provided. However, you can also find a sampler of some of these tunes in this Spotify playlist below:

Enjoy the music!

The Third Eye