Grand Rapids, MI trio Heaters return with an excellent second offering that perfectly blends Nuggets psych and raw Hawkwind spacerock with just a touch of surf for proper propulsion.
Baptistina rides on the cresting gas of deep space nebulae. Extremely reverbed guitar licks emanate from a vacuous garage in some ethereal amalgamation of The Byrds, The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Dick Dale, even a smattering of Blue Cheer, while the dual alternating, monotone vocals nod to Spacemen 3, The Jesus and Mary Chain and, of course, Dave Brock and Robert Calvert, all jettisoned by a rhythm section that sounds like The Sonics in a black hole. The two (mostly) instrumental interludes, “Orbs” and “Turkish Gold,” also draw from Eno and dub reggae, respectively. It’s an exquisite trip from beginning to end.
As Heaters join the ranks of Desert Mountain Tribe and The Myrrors, a new breed of gritty spacerock pirates emerges to pillage a forlorn rock’n‘roll shipwreck. Shoegazers take note: The future is out there.
