Velvet Penny, the Los Angeles-based art rock provocateur, returns with “Hot Air Balloon,” a zany and buoyant single recently released on a 7” split release with psych band Sol Société (who contribute their digital single “Sambido”).
This summer-ready collaboration arrives via emerging psychedelic imprint Psylk Rd and lathe-cut specialists After Hours Records, promising to bring serious heat to your turntable.
On “Hot Air Balloon,” Velvet Penny fully embraces a spirit of wonder, shedding mental roadblocks and soaring fearlessly into new artistic territory. The track channels a playful, mischievous energy, nodding to the madcap genius of Frank Zappa and Danny Elfman while pushing boldly into fresh psych-prog territory.
“Hot Air Balloon” brims with a carnivalesque spirit, conjuring a hall-of-mirrors trickster energy wrapped in lush arrangements and dreamlike textures. It feels like a ticket to a fantastical world: whimsical, surreal, and captivating. A splendid, transportive single that delights at every turn.
Meanwhile, “Sambido” by Sol Société infuses the split with a Latin psychedelic flair that feels like a modern spin on Tropicalia. This Southern California duo, self-described purveyors of “bedroom freak music with a splash of brass,” deliver a track that’s spicy and electrifying.
However you choose to label it, “Sambido” bursts with energy and pairs seamlessly with Velvet Penny’s “Hot Air Balloon,” making for an adventurous listening experience.
Together, these two tracks create a tasty soundtrack for drifting into summer skies and an essential addition to any playlist. Naturally, we’ve already added them to The Third Eye playlist.
It’s also worth noting that Velvet Penny and Sol Société move in the same SoCal circles as Third Eye favorite and resident mystic Bee Appleseed, the solo psych wanderer and one of the guiding spirits behind Elf Freedom.
With Bee Appleseed giving these tracks his stamp of approval, consider it a cosmic green light and a strong endorsement in our book.
Check out the split release here
Velvet Penny: Bandcamp | Instagram | Official Website
Sol Société: Bandcamp
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