Orgōne is a pillar of West Coast soul music, maintaining an unmissable touring presence for more than a decade. The group’s arresting intensity, impeccable playing style, and undeniable, irresistible chemistry have earned them the reputation as one of the tightest bands of the modern era. Fresh off of doubling as the studio band for discodelic sensation Say She She and circling the globe as the live band for their wildly successful world tour, Orgōne is back in California and coming in hot with Chimera, a fire-breathing spectacle of psychedelic Afro-soul. Produced by Sergio Rios (Neal Francis, Say She She), Chimera is an electrifying, dream-like odyssey, tripping through the hazy swamps of New Orleans, weaving textures of entrancing voodoo soul, thrumming Afro-funk, and stoney psych-rock.
In Chimera, the heavy-hitting new LP from Orgōne, out February 9th, 2024 on 3 Palm Records, the Los Angeles-based outfit carves tough, gritty, infectious grooves into heady dance rhythms. Taking its name from a mythical beast with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent, Chimera conjures a state that is at once trance-like and heart-poundingly exciting. The album offers a spellbinding mix of cathartic instrumentals, dub voyages, and soulful vocal performances by Jamie Allensworth, Terin Ector, and Congolese musical alchemist Mermans “Mofaya” Mosengo.
Known for their gripping instrumentals and incendiary live show, the band is firing on all cylinders and the earned confidence of this time-tested, cult-favorite crew is on display throughout Chimera. Describing the process of producing and engineering this psych-funk showcase, guitarist and Orgōne co-founder Sergio Rios says, “The album really took form organically. It’s raw and dark with a hopeful thread throughout that’s highlighted by the incredible soul singers we work with. There’s a looseness to most of the cuts, giving the album the feeling of a shadowy dream.” With Chimera, the band has tapped into a deeper version of themselves. The sounds are fresh yet classic, the grooves are ferocious and infectious, and the vocal performances are captivating.
The album opens like a heady puff of smoke in the face with “Hallowed Dreams,” drawing the listener into a state where reality blurs and the music takes control. The focus track, “Zum Zum,” is a hooky Afro-funk dance floor heater that synchronizes your heart rate to its propulsive percussion, the hypnotic rhythm building into a raucous, psychedelic climax. Mermans “Mofaya” Mosengo sings in his native Lingala, jabbing and weaving around the rhythm section’s chugging force with his gruff and soulful voice. On the raw and rousing “Tula Muisi (Dance Like Them),” a tapestry of Afrobeat and heavy psych-rock bolsters Mosengo’s call for unity and respect, which translates to “Hear the music, and dance like them.”
On “Lies & Games,” Terin Ector brings yearning soul vocals to this righteous lament of the rocky road to redemption over grimy rhythm guitar, spaced-out synths, breakbeat-worthy drums, and haunting Wailers-inspired backing vocals. “Parasols” is a jaunty, head-bobbing slab of greasy New Orleans funk, and a heartfelt nod to Josie-era Meters and the unmistakable early ’70s-era production of Allen Toussaint. The instrumental serves up a punchy, slightly tipsy rhythm that sways with sweetly melodic gospel-tinged organ.
Drawing on multicultural influences of Afrobeat, Southern soul, psych-rock, and raw funk, Chimera bridges the darkest reaches of psychedelia to the highest peaks of joyful dance music. With easy SoCal swagger, deep New Orleans roots, and a profound reverence for the sounds of the African diaspora, Orgōne creates a unique, transporting experience that feels untethered to any single place or time. Relentlessly vibey and immersive from start to finish, Orgōne’s newest LP feels like a sustained hypnagogic hallucination — the place between waking and sleep where reality is fluid and anything feels possible.
From its inception, Orgōne has always been a chimera — a multifaceted creation and the physical manifestation of impossible quixotic dreams. Chimera will delight fans of early Orgōne while showcasing the band’s effortless and endless ability to shape-shift. It’s an electrifying, mesmerizing record sure to exceed expectations and keep the listener rapt.
Orgōne’s new “Chimera” album drops February 9, 2024 via 3 Palm Records. Click here to pre-order the vinyl and Orgōne merch bundles. Orgōne’s new single “Lies and Games” is out now. Click here to purchase / stream.
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