Jah Wobble & Tian Qiyi – Mystic Liverpool
Mystic Liverpool: The Beatles’ Psychedelic Psongbook includes ten songs from The Beatles’ most daring psychedelic phase and pushes them beyond the category of simple tribute albums. Instead, Jah Wobble and Tian Qiyi reimagine these popular melodies using dub, jazz, folk, psychedelic rock, and Chinese and Mongolian-inspired instruments, resulting in something that feels less like a compilation of covers and more like a journey into an alternate musical dimension. “Tomorrow Never Knows” kicks off the album with hypnotic jazz rhythms, spaced-out vocals, and oriental orchestration, defining the album’s psychedelic approach. “Strawberry Fields Forever” has a slower jazzy vibe, panning effects, and dreamy guitars, while “Within You Without You” combines sitar, classic rock guitar, and busy percussion to create an almost cosmic mood. The dub influence is strongest on “I Am The Walrus,” which features distant vocals and powerful rhythms that create an artistic impression of chaos. “Norwegian Wood” features Chinese folk rhythms and ethereal vocals, while “Blue Jay Way” reminds me of 1990s neo-psychedelic bands like Kula Shaker, Ozric Tentacles and Gong (1970s). The album’s exploration of exotic grooves and folk textures continues with “The Inner Light,” “Love You To,” and “Flying.” “Rain” closes the adventure with a softer psychedelic-folk and nearly ambient vibe, offering a peaceful finale. Overall, Mystic Liverpool turns old Beatles tracks into something considerably more creative, using dub, world music, and psychedelic elements to create a hypnotic journey that is nostalgic and different from the originals.
Jah Wobble & Tian Qiyi photo by Alex Hurst
https://jahwobble.bandcamp.com
