Dora Flood

Where does a former Californian dream pop band do now, five years after the movement has passed? Dora Flood released one of the ten best U.S. records of that genre with 1995's 1301 EP -- already a year late to get on that fine bandwagon -- and were MIA, presumed dead since. But here they are at last, with the same lineup, and a new direction. Like another San Francisco ex-shoegaze outfit, Brian Jonestown Massacre, only without the all-encompassing attitude/bluster/humor, Dora Flood have made a natural lateral move into the more '60s-trippy. Songs such as "Acceleration," the vintage organ-drenched "Satellite," the chimy "Suburban Girlfriend," and the sinister-hypnotic "Envy's Angel" (with unexpected contrary bridge) employ the sort of dizzy vibe and psychedelic/sci-fi sound effects that served the Rolling Stones so well on 1967's Their Satanic Majesties Request (think "She's a Rainbow," "Citadel," and Bill Wyman's "In Another Land") and a few of George Harrison and John Lennon's Revolver excursions. Guitarist/writer Michael Padilla's vocals are still a bit sleepy, in the shoegaze style, but it fits this well-developed feedback guitar and spacey, mind-control organ stuff. And the modern production, instead of something backward-looking, is the right idea. A good LP for dim lights, smoke, tea, and, well, a kaleidoscope. Just get past the first four lesser songs. (41 Sutter St., Ste. 1337, S.F., CA 94104) ~ Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover, All Music Guide