Audiopile Review: Majestic psych-pop from the Bay Area underground issued via Ethan Miller’s (Comets on Fire/Howlin Rain guitarist) Silver Current imprint. Residing in somewhat similar circles to other bands from the SF scene we’ve been enamoured with as of recently, Magic Fig aim for the sunnier side of the psychedelic sound rather than the lo-fi/DIY aesthetic we’ve become more accustomed to from the likes of Famous Mammals, Cuneiform Tabs, Red, Pinks & Purples, Cindy etc. While the group confess to being inspired by the proggy ‘60s Canterbury scene, we can’t help but hear a dash of the virtuosic guitar-centric 90s indie-rock aesthetic employed by Helium, the fuzzy-baroque efforts of The Apples In Stereo and the hypnagogic-pop of Jane Weaver. With her heavy-lidded and softly-sung delivery, vocalist Inna Showalter, who also plays in twee-fuzz outfit Whitney’s Playland, leads an energetic swirl of mellotron, fuzz guitar, and a driving rhythm section that draws on 60+ years of psych, indie rock and sunshine pop for an absolutely addictive debut.

ON LIMITED BLUE MARBLE VINYL!!! Bursting forth in a bouquet of dreamlike hooks, choral vocals and Moog pitch-bends, Magic Fig’s debut proves that the technicolor heart of San Francisco’s psychedelic lineage is still beating and as vivid as ever. Featuring alumni from the Bay Area’s best and brightest pop, psychedelic and garage bands (The Umbrellas, Whitney’s Playland, Almond Joy and Healing Potpourri among them) Magic Fig’s debut is full of sonic fireworks, top-shelf musicianship, hooks abound and a distinctive melding of prog rock and pop joy reminiscent of the ’60s / ’70s Canterbury greats. Produced by Joel Robinow of Once and Future Band.