The Third Eye

With a name like Head Shoppe, you know the music must be trippy. It’s the work of Los Angeles-based artist Eric Von Harding, who released the self-titled record in early June. It features a surreal blend of vintage synths, tape delays, and field recordings with his skills as an acoustic guitar player. It’s great stuff.

Von Harding is an acoustic guitar player versed in classical, flamenco, and traditional folk styles. His guitar mastery is evident on Head Shoppe, but there’s much more to it than that. The six tracks on the record feature a mind-blowing lo-fi dreamscape bordering on ambient collages and nebulous melodies.

Head Shoppe is similar to another artist that The Third Eye loves, Australian ambient/acoustic guitar acid folkster Levi J. Burr. You could also place Head Shoppe in the same dreamy category as other ambient country and surreal folksters like SUSS, William Tyler, and Chuck Johnson.

The record begins with “Parque De Chapultec,” a majestic though brief instrumental with hints of medieval and mystical tones—the ethereal blends with the earthy here in a rich tapestry playing on themes of psychedelia.

“Saunders Meadow” plays out over nearly nine beautiful minutes in a cosmic ambiance that’s both expansive and intimate. The acoustic guitar and electronic elements mix to create a fascinating, textured listening experience with hypnotic and repetitive rhythms that ripple through the speakers.

“Seance” is interesting for the name alone. You get the feeling that Head Shoppe may be a spiritualist by how he conjures ghosts with classical guitar and transports the listener into a trance-like state. “Gracias A La Vida” is another lengthy track that takes over eight minutes. Head Shoppe dips into flamenco guitar style and creates an intellectually stimulating soundscape.

“Drive Back From Idyllwild” is a rugged journey through the California countryside that brings the listener back to Earth. The record closes with “Candlelight Vigil,” mixing field recordings with lively acoustic guitar playing.

Head Shoppe explores the unknown and liminal spaces on this self-titled record. It packs a potent punch with tons of great listening to get lost in and a runtime of only about 37 minutes. Fans of ambient, folk, psychedelia, and more should appreciate what this LA-based artist has created.

Check out Head Shoppe on Bandcamp here.

Consider supporting The Third Eye on Patreon here.