The Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires‘ debut LP, Psychedelic Soul & Trash Vol.3, is a genre-bending, mind-twisting ride through a kaleidoscope of sounds and styles. Released fittingly on Halloween, this album is as much an adventure in sonic diversity as it is a tribute to the genre mashups of music’s past. Nick Foster and Luke Barratt, the creative forces behind the project, have crafted an indie-pop album that fuses everything from garage rock and psychedelic soul to funk and techno, blending these elements into something epic and utterly unpredictable.
Inspired by the 1974 cult horror film The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires, the album carries a similar genre-bending ambition, melding disparate musical styles in a way that feels chaotic yet purposeful. The result is a “bubblegum sci-fi/horror” indie pop journey that somehow manages to sound familiar and alien all at once. Psychedelic Soul & Trash Vol.3 carries the spirit of the UK’s underground mashup scene, where unexpected combinations flourish, inviting listeners to embrace an eclectic, mind-expanding soundscape.
Each track on this LP feels like its own universe. High-energy pop anthems sit side-by-side with lush, “Spectoresque” ballads that echo the grandeur of classic rock and the introspection of soul. The album features contributions from friends and collaborators like James Atkin (EMF) and Eliot Foster (Good Cop), who help bring an extra layer of depth to the music. The tracks are stacked with layers of samples, decks, and instrumentation, all expertly woven together by Foster and Barratt into cohesive yet diverse compositions.
Psychedelic Soul & Trash Vol.3 plays like a love letter to the history of indie pop and electronic music, paying homage to everything from the funk and soul of the ‘70s, to the rave and jungle scenes of the ‘90s, to modern French Touch and techno. Tracks range from high-octane, danceable anthems that feel as if they were plucked straight from a late-night club scene, to atmospheric pieces that capture the eerie allure of sci-fi horror. Nick Foster himself describes the album as “a sonic exploration of all the song styles we are influenced by,” making it a deeply personal project that’s equal parts intimate and ambitious.
With the album’s unpredictable shifts in tone and style, Psychedelic Soul & Trash Vol.3 showcases the versatility of The Legends of the Seven Golden Vampires and their commitment to pushing indie pop to its outer limits. The album artwork by Gareth Halliday (known for his work with Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds) sets the tone visually, reinforcing the album’s bold, otherworldly aesthetic.
Overall, Psychedelic Soul & Trash Vol.3 is a dazzling, genre-hopping masterpiece, daring listeners to step into its strange, vibrant universe. Each track may feel like a standalone “planet,” but together, they form a cohesive world that feels fresh, nostalgic, and wonderfully bizarre. It is absolutely fair to say that this album is like no other, and it is absolutely worth a listen!
