Orgōne is a pillar of West Coast soul music, maintaining an unmissable
touring presence for more than a decade. The group’s arresting
intensity, impeccable playing style, and undeniable, irresistible
chemistry have earned them the reputation as one of the tightest bands
of the modern era. Fresh off of doubling as the studio band for
discodelic sensation Say She She and circling the globe as the live band
for their wildly successful world tour, Orgōne is back in California
and coming in hot with Chimera, a fire-breathing spectacle of
psychedelic Afro-soul. Produced by Sergio Rios (Neal Francis, Say She
She), Chimera is an electrifying, dream-like odyssey, tripping through
the hazy swamps of New Orleans, weaving textures of entrancing voodoo
soul, thrumming Afro-funk, and stoney psych-rock.
In Chimera, the heavy-hitting new LP from Orgōne, out February 9th, 2024
on 3 Palm Records, the Los Angeles-based outfit carves tough, gritty,
infectious grooves into heady dance rhythms. Taking its name from a
mythical beast with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail
of a serpent, Chimera conjures a state that is at once trance-like and
heart-poundingly exciting. The album offers a spellbinding mix of
cathartic instrumentals, dub voyages, and soulful vocal performances by
Jamie Allensworth, Terin Ector
, and Congolese musical alchemist Mermans “Mofaya” Mosengo.
Known for their gripping instrumentals and incendiary live show, the
band is firing on all cylinders and the earned confidence of this
time-tested, cult-favorite crew is on display throughout Chimera.
Describing the process of producing and engineering this psych-funk
showcase, guitarist and Orgōne co-founder Sergio Rios says, “The album
really took form organically. It’s raw and dark with a hopeful thread
throughout that’s highlighted by the incredible soul singers we work
with. There's a looseness to most of the cuts, giving the album the
feeling of a shadowy dream.” With Chimera, the band has tapped into a
deeper version of themselves. The sounds are fresh yet classic, the
grooves are ferocious and infectious, and the vocal performances are
captivating.
The album opens like a heady puff of smoke in the face with “Hallowed
Dreams,” drawing the listener into a state where reality blurs and the
music takes control. The focus track, “Zum Zum,” is a hooky Afro-funk
dance floor heater that synchronizes your heart rate to its propulsive
percussion, the hypnotic rhythm building into a raucous, psychedelic
climax. Mermans “Mofaya” Mosengo sings in his native Lingala, jabbing
and weaving around the rhythm section’s chugging force with his gruff
and soulful voice. On the raw and rousing “Tula Muisi (Dance Like
Them),” a tapestry of Afrobeat and heavy psych-rock bolsters Mosengo’s
call for unity and respect, which translates to “Hear the music, and
dance like them.”
On “Lies & Games,” Terin Ector brings yearning soul vocals to this
righteous lament of the rocky road to redemption over grimy rhythm
guitar, spaced-out synths, breakbeat-worthy drums, and haunting
Wailers-inspired backing vocals. “Parasols” is a jaunty, head-bobbing
slab of greasy New Orleans funk, and a heartfelt nod to Josie-era Meters
and the unmistakable early 70s-era production of Allen Toussaint. The
instrumental serves up a punchy, slightly tipsy rhythm that sways with
sweetly melodic gospel-tinged organ.
Drawing on multicultural influences of Afrobeat, Southern soul,
psych-rock, and raw funk, Chimera bridges the darkest reaches of
psychedelia to the highest peaks of joyful dance music. With easy SoCal
swagger, deep New Orleans roots, and a profound reverence for the sounds
of the African diaspora, Orgōne creates a unique, transporting
experience that feels untethered to any single place or time.
Relentlessly vibey and immersive from start to finish, Orgōne’s newest
LP feels like a sustained hypnagogic hallucination — the place between
waking and sleep where reality is fluid and anything feels possible.
From its inception, Orgōne has always been a chimera — a multifaceted
creation and the physical manifestation of impossible quixotic dreams.
Chimera will delight fans of early Orgōne while showcasing the band’s
effortless and endless ability to shape-shift. It’s an electrifying,
mesmerizing record sure to exceed expectations and keep the listener
rapt.
For fans of Altun Gun, Khruangbin, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Witch, Goat & Monophonics.
Tracklist:
1. Hallowed Dreams
2. Lies and Games
3. Basilisk
4. Peace For You
5. Parasols
6. Zum Zum
7. Running Low
8. The Husk
9. Tula Muisi (Dance Like Them)
10. Coronado
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