The Blue Mountains is a region blessed with natural allure, its hues, stunning eucalyptus & sandstone foundation and mountainous terrain engulfs the senses and inspires you to eat those mushrooms you spotted just off the trail. Doctor Goddard, hailing from the Blue Mountains make the music you’d expect to hear as the soundtrack to your ensuing out-of-body experience through the mountainside. Since releasing their self-titled debut EP in August 2014 the band have taken to stages all over Sydney, playing with the likes of Peking Duk and Rice is Nice’s Richard in Your Mind, making those willing or otherwise to take notice of the band’s unique sound.
Like their serene and pristine Blue Mountains home, three-piece Doctor Goddard are set to take you on a journey with their intoxicating single Without Love.
Coming together in early 2013, after a university poker tournament, the band set out to play a brand of psyched out bluesy rock, inspired by their joint admiration and respect for the U.S West Coast blues scene of the 70s. Comprised of brothers Mikael and Nicholas Sandstrom and Chris Seaman, the three-piece’s sound is reminiscent of Innerspeaker-era Tame Impala tones meeting the charismatic vocal stylings and rhythms of The Doors.
Doctor Goddard have recently released Without Love, the lead single of their sophomore EP. Recorded live over two days at REC Studios the band took guidance from Sydney based producer and The Preatures’ guitarist Jack Moffitt. The track has been produced to a very high standard, a welcome change of pace if you find yourself being bored by the ever-present lo-fi production found in Australia’s current psych scene.
Sonically Without Love is a moody beast of acid tinged rock, the low end rolling in and out as it pleases, drums flooding in funk, bass grooves tighter than the gap between a supermodel’s front teeth and charming vocals that’ll have you ready to make out with the closest, consenting, stranger upon first listening in. Lyrically the track explores feelings of desire through vivid imagery, with the hook “Without love you die” imploring the listener to express their romantic interests or risk feeling a numbness associated with unrequited love.
While the band are yet to announce a release date for their aforementioned sophomore EP, Doctor Goddard will undoubtedly have a place in your party playlist this summer whether you find yourself picking mushrooms in the Blue Mountains or not.