We’ve long been fans of the intricate psych-rock sound of Philadelphia-born Asteroid no.4, dating back to their 1998 debut LP Introducing…. Since then, psychedelic rock has gone in and out of style a few hundred times over, but the band has remained consistent over seven full-length albums, more than a dozen compilation appearances, and multiple single and digital rarity releases.
Sixteen years after their introduction and on the heels of a recent band relocation to the fertile psych rock grounds of San Francisco, the Asteroid no.4 is back with their eighth LP, simply titled Asteroid no.4, out September 23 via the UK’s Bad Vibrations Recordings. “Employing sitars, eastern-tinged sparsity, space-rock fueled anthems, and pastoral folk instrumentals, Asteroid no.4 seems to have hit upon the magic first heard on their debut, but with the mature songwriting that could have only been learned over a journey of this many years,” reads the presser, and that’s more than enough to get us excited.
As we await the full record, today the band has dropped its lead single, “Rukma Vimana,” which you can listen to below. It’s another tripped-out haze-pop joyride, and it’s incredible how fresh Asteroid no.4 sound after a decade-and-a-half in the game. Fire it up via Soundcloud, and check out the Asteroid no.4’s upcoming European tour dates (warmed up by two Bay Area shows) after the jump.
The Asteroid no.4 Fall Live Dates
Aug 30 Bandit Town Allnight Campout 2014 North Fork, CA
Aug 31 Brick and Mortar Music Hall San Francisco, CA
Sep 12 Reverence Festival Valada, Portugal Tickets
Sep 13 Tiki Psych Fest San Sebastian, Spain
Sep 14 Bègles Terre-neuve Bordeaux, France
Sep 16 Hana Bi Ravenna, Italy
Sep 17 Via Della Stazione Tuscolana 133 Roma, Italy
Sep 18 Rain Dogs Savona, Italy
Sep 19 Club Bad Bonn Dudingen, Switzerland
Sep 20 Levitation Festival Angers, France Tickets
Sep 21 Incubate Festival Tilburg, Netherlands Tickets
Sep 23 La Mécanique Ondulatoire Paris, France
Sep 24 Cinepalace Kortrijk, Belgium
Sep 25 The Shacklewell Arms London, United Kingdom Tickets
Sep 26 Liverpool Psych Fest Liverpool, United Kingdom
Sep 27 The Scene Lincoln, United Kingdom Tickets
Sep 28 The Oobleck Birmingham, United Kingdom Tickets
Oct 01 HUSET-KBH (Huset i Magstræde) Copenhagen, Denmark
Oct 02 Indra Club Hamburg, Germany
Oct 03 Bang Bang Club Berlin, Germany