The Third Mind The Third Mind 2 2LP

TAS Rated 5/5 Music, 4.5/5 Sonics in the February 2024 Issue of The Absolute Sound!

Featuring an all-star eclectic ensemble of like-minded musicians - Jesse Sykes (acoustic guitar, vocals); Dave Alvin (electric guitar); Victor Krummenacher (bass guitar/harmonium/mellotron); David Immerglück (guitar); and Michael Jerome (drums/percussion) - The Third Mind 2, this supergroup's second album, reflects the band members' varied musical histories with a "no safety parachute" recording approach using free-form studio techniques, no rehearsals, no preconceived arrangements, and recording spontaneous group improvisations live in studio.

The six-song set, which runs the length of three LP sides, showcases songs written in the 1960s including, "Groovin' Is Easy," "Why Not Your Baby," "Sally Go 'Round the Roses," among others, and an original composition, "Tall Grass," written by Jesse Sykes and Dave Alvin for the album. The fourth LP side features The Third Mind Mandala etching by Tony Fitzpatrick. The album cover features artwork from Lou Beach.

Produced by The Third Mind, the album was recorded by Will Golden at Sir Tiger Studio in Los Angeles, CA, mixed by Craig Parker Adams at Winslow Court Studios in Los Angeles, and mastered by David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.

With singer/acoustic guitarist Jesse Sykes fully integrated as lead vocalist, the Third Mind sounds like a bona fide ongoing band. Sykes comes naturally to the blend of raw emotionality, vulnerability, and steely resolve of such forbears as Grace Slick, Julie Driscoll, and Jacqui McShee. With L.A. jack-of-all-musical trades Willie Aron adding piano, Hammond B-3, and Mellotron, the sound is again dense and swirling, but not so sticky-thick that the electric guitars don't slither, snarl, slash, and skyrocket into extended solos out of the phantasmagoric mix.