Midweektonic certainly know how to bring a classic psychedelic rock groove. These three Auckland based multi-instrumentalists have been performing together since 2014 and the band’s third album, ‘Dust Of Stars’, really illustrates their refined retro sound.

Dominated by a genre-tripping authenticity, the 10-track album is introduced with a haunting te reo Māori from Moss Patterson in Ribbons of Life Part 1, leading to a tribal percussion and guitar jam. Andrew Burt (bass/guitars/keys/mandolin) has a vocal style reminiscent in phrasing of Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters. Richard Ingamels adds guitar and flute, while Yair Katz provides percussion as well as acoustic guitar. All three are equipped with microphones, and while none excel their voices blend supportively.

Glimpses of mandolin, synth, cello, tuba and xylophone, amongst other instruments pop up throughout – the overall feel a tribute to the forgotten form of storytelling through music. Highlights include The Point Of No Return with its dirty distorted metal riffs raising memories of Black Sabbath – a recurring motif of their recordings. Ribbons of Life Part 2 brings a taster of some reggae skank and a bluesy funk break-down, whereas No One Blinks An Eyelid goes on a 9m30s journey with spacey guitar solos. The talented Yair Katz displays a drumming versatility which links all the different grooves together.

Burt is credited with the engineering, mixing and mastering which adds further to the sense that this Midweektonic his project. The odd rough patch suggests it would have benefitted from an outsider’s input at one or more of those stages. Taking a trip into the retro-‘70s rock zone, the album’s sound is fused with bits of earthy folk-jazz, filled with classic guitar riffs and the odd humbling addition of Ingamels’ flute. Lyrics are sprinkled with philosophical thoughts and reflections about the world and the experiences within it. “We were born from dust of stars – it is time now, look here we are.”