New album Voyages drops on Oct. 6th!
The Forces have been receiving critical acclaim for their unique fusion of Beatlesque psychedelia with hip-hop inspired beats. Their self-titled debut EP (2022) was three times featured as ‘New and Notable’ on the Bandcamp.com homepage, and their music was praised as a ‘cohesive and wildly original body of work’ by Plasticmag.co.uk.
Their full album Voyages has been composed, written, and produced by Dutch producer Joshua Boon and features the vocals of Manchester singer Tim Condor, along with more than 20 international musicians. The album also has a contribution of rapper Cavalier, a frequent collaborator with QuelleChris, and a featured artist on Stones Throw’s Quakers II album (2021) and BackwoodzStudioz’ High Bias (2023).
The psychedelic pop sounds of the 1960s and the raw edge of hip-hop may seem disparate, but both genres blend various musical styles. Both experiment with unique sound effects, such as the use of reverb, tape loops, echo, and sampling. Additionally, both psychedelic music and hip-hop have a tradition of addressing political and social issues through their lyrics and themes.
With an outlook of a crate-digger, Joshua Boon’s appreciation of British music from the 1960s reflects a love for the ghostly sounds of vintage tracks, including vinyl noise and tape hiss, emulating the sonic experimentation of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Voyages takes listeners on a trip down memory lane with mind-bending sound effects, golden melodies, prehistoric synths, unconventional musical structures, and dusty English soundbites.
Also, fans who purchase the album on Bandcamp.com will get a special treat – exclusive access to all the instrumentals. The worldwide distribution of vinyl will be handled by Clear Spot, distributor of psychedelic artists such as Kikagaku Moyo, Electric Moon and Lamp Of The Universe.
Out on October 6th on all platforms, Voyages is The Forces’ chance to tell their whole story. “Perfect for those who want to drift away into a nostalgic time warp filled with modern production.” (BOOT MUSIC UK)