Eric's Trip - "Purple Blue" (1996)

Local music today, Eric's Trip originates from Moncton, New Brunswick, which is only 1000 km (620 miles) to drive from my home in Montreal. This was their third album, a record that I received on the latest Father's day from my family. Had never heard of the band, neither had my family, my wife and kids liked the cover, they thought it was a piece of art. Personally, I expected it would be quite druggy and experimental music, an idea based on the band name. I was wrong, Eric's Trip was the first Canadian band signed on the Seattle grunge label Sub Pop in the early 90's, which gives a hint of what it's all about. One of the few vinyl records from the 90's in the collection, although it's a reissue from 2018, on purple vinyl, indeed.

The first four songs are a kind of introduction, which gives definitive psych vibes, such as Mooseheart Faith Stellar Groove Band (a band name I like to drop, since almost nobody knows them). Lofi, murry sound, a kinda neurotic mood. But then the album starts for real. Not that the sound changes a lot. There's a lot of guitar and bass distortion, numerous songs wander between quiet, calm parts and thundering, noisy guitars. The singing is shared between Rick White and Julie Doiron, and personally I appreciate Julie's song more. You can hear some grunge in the music, which is not surprising, and bands like Nirvana and also Smashing Pumpkins flicker past in my head. Somewhat depressive and neurotic album, but here and there, especially Julie's singing brighten things up a bit.

Short songs makes the variation great. It's not an album that you instantly fall in love with, it requires a number of listenings to open up. But then you begin to understand why Eric's Trip was a relatively popular band within its genre, usually defined as alternative rock, I've noted online. If you like the Lofi sound with lots of guitar distortion, you can give Eric's Trip a chance. The band split up the same year this album was released, but apparently played some gigs thereafter as well.


Tracklist

Side A
1. "Introduction Into The ..., Pt. 1-4" - 8:13
2. "Hourly" - 2:47
3. "Sixteen Hours" - 3:05
4. "Universe" - 3:08
5. "Eyes Shut" - 1:37
6. "Alone and Annoyed" - 2:12
7. "Lighthouse" - 2:09

Side B
1. "Spaceship Opening" - 2:18
2. "Universal Dawn" - 3:32
3. "One Floor Below" - 1:40
4. "Now a Friend" - 1:54
5. "Soon, Coming Closer" - 3:37
6. "Not Yours" - 2:26
7. "Sun Coming Up" - 2:20
8. "Beach" - 4:14