Hertfordshire’s LEGENDS OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES return with The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams, a follow-up to their 2024 debut Psychedelic Soul & Trash Vol.3. Where that record revelled in an eclectic collision of psychedelic rock, funk, trip-hop and electronic sounds, this second full-length feels more focused, drawing its varied influences into a more cohesive dream-pop landscape. The addition of Dutch vocalist Ilse Van Der Linden brings a melodic warmth to the band’s sound and give these psychedelic pop excursions a stronger emotional centre.
“ To Think, To Heal” sets a contemplative mood with its weighty acoustic guitar strumming and haunting, slow-paced vocal delivery. A deep bass line revs beneath the arrangement, grounding the song while distant, jittering percussion creates a subtle sense of unease. The steady guitar rhythm gives the track a patient momentum that allows its atmospheric layers to settle around the listener.
On “Hopelessly Devoted To You,” the mood turns more intimate. A brooding bass line provides a shadowy foundation as Van Der Linden sings with a tender warmth as her thick voice carries palpable yearning, desperation, and despondency.
“BLEND,” by contrast, moves into more overtly electronic territory. Pulsating synths push against a heavy, immersive bass while the beat gradually rises into a steady, marching stomp. As the initial haze recedes, the instrumental layers become clearer and sharper, bringing the track’s glimmering rhythmic force into sharper focus. The grinding buzz continues to run alongside the cleaner textures, preserving a welcome edge beneath the electronic sheen.
Drawing on an expansive range of references, from Radiohead and Portishead to Orbital and Cyndi Lauper, The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams finds LEGENDS OF THE SEVEN GOLDEN VAMPIRES bringing their adventurous instincts into a more unified form. Its blend of brooding atmospheres, melodic vocals and pulsing electronics makes for an absorbing listen, while the band’s planned UK acoustic tour offers another way to experience these songs beyond their layered studio arrangements.
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Review by: Naomi Joan