An intergalactic and interpersonal journey
In August of 2019, sister duo Prince Rama disbanded with their final EP Rage in Peace. This year, one of the sisters, Taraka Larson, is releasing her own music, such as her debut album Welcome to Paradise Lost.
Like Rage in Peace, this album is psychedelic but slightly more experimental. The title track, for example, opens with an eerie voice counting to 20, seemingly placing the track in a dollhouse horror movie. “Psychocastle” is similarly creepy with an asylum horror twist: the lyrical alternation between “I hate you” and “I miss you” is comparable to the bipolar nature of Nirvana’s “Lithium.”
The most experimental track on the album, though, is “Total Failure.” Between the operatic orchestra, harmonizing chorus and reversed music, the song blends the whimsy and creativity of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band with the classic punk elements of the Sex Pistols.
While certainly using experimental and psychedelic elements from nearly 50 years ago, the artist also uses more modern effects that may be found in hyperpop. “0010110,” particularly, opens with an automated answering machine that transports listeners to the days of AOL internet and Y2K fashion. The brass section provided a mesmerizing background noise. Another interesting aspect is learning what the numbers meant in binary code—it’s a universal code for telepathic connection. “Bad Bonezz,” too, maintains a dreamy ethereal voice while drawing upon the poppy beats and melodies of early 2000s rom-com soundtracks—and, of course, a series of key changes at the end.
The album is still genuine, though. “Sad Blue Eyes” discusses the natural tendency to romanticize the flaws of those we love, as those flaws are what define our fondest memories; “So Happy For You” carries the serenity of relaxing on a beach under seagulls flying above, and the nostalgic “Old Gloves” closes the album with a simple piano melody akin to a lullaby accompanying a children’s ballet.
Welcome to Paradise Lost is a complex story, a journey of trying to move forward and find yourself when you constantly feel stuck. Taraka addressed this inner issue in Pitchfork when the video for “Psychocastle” came out: “Ever feel like every path you take is just another mobius strip leading you back to where you first began? Congratulations, welcome to the Psychocastle.”
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