Rising Star

PREMIERE | Ben Millburn Drops 'Call Me King'

Psychedelic, grunge-lite alt rock from Texas

Ben Millburn premieres "Call Me King" on Popdust. The song is from Millburn's forthcoming album, called Sunglass Moustache, slated to drop September 14.

Recorded at Church House and Good Danny's, Millburn and Panama Grant co-produced the album. The tracks were laid-down rapidly, according to Millburn.

"We recorded the majority of the record live, vocals and all, about a week after we got back from a tour of the South. We recorded eight songs in two days."

Each of the songs on the album will be accompanied by a music video written and directed by Millburn and acted, edited, and shot by different members of Sunglass Moustache. "The videos tell the story of Mr. Tuxedo and his rise and reign in power. He gets help – or was it hurt, I can't remember – from the other characters, Mustang Billy and Mr. Taco, along the way."

Originally from Louisiana, and now hanging out in Austin, Texas, Millburn and his band, also called Sunglass Moustache, project a wide-ranging sound encompassing pop, progressive rock, psychedelic, cosmic, Texan, funk, and blues influences.

"Call Me King" opens with trickling psychedelic guitars and bleeding synth colors atop a measured almost shuffling groove. There's a grunge-lite-phantasmagoric feel to the tune, akin to "Strawberry Fields Forever." Millburn's voice exudes sonic nonchalance with tantalizing reedy wisps of scrumptious condescension.

Full of hallucinatory images and fanciful montages of color, the video depicts Millburn, the king, seated on his comfy-chair throne, caparisoned in a variety of costumes, ranging from a tuxedo to urban chic, i.e. black jeans, hoodie, and goggles.

"Call Me King" exudes lush, suppressed energy, like the luminous dust of psychedelic dreams.

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Randy Radic is a Left Coast author and writer. Author of numerous true crime books written under the pen-name of John Lee Brook. Former music contributor at Huff Post.