Sultans Court - “Autopilot”

Photo by Jeanette Friedrich

Berlin-based band Sultans Court have just released a deliciously psychedelic jaunt called “Autopilot,” the first single from their upcoming EP, Everything’s Fine, which is slated for a January release.

Upon pressing play, the element that initially hooked us here was the creamy, vintage goodness of the hypnotic bass line. It’s served to your earholes with just the right amount of grind and we must say that it’s quite refreshing to hear the actual instrument, instead of a midi substitute, as is reasonably common these days. There are, however, some synthy artifacts underscoring this steady foundation, which add to the overall atmosphere, capturing the lister’s interest straight out of the gate.

The lo-fi drums appear, adding another delightful layer to this musical dish and this beat will have your feet tapping and your head bobbing in seconds flat. After taking into account all of these wonderful aspects, “Autopilot” smashes through the roof with its vocal performance. The lyrics are delivered in a soulful falsetto that will promptly have you attempting to sing along. The moments of harmonies and backing vocals only add to this appeal and we wager that, once you press play, you will immediately plan your return for another serving.

There is something about “Autopilot” that is reminiscent of both early Beck and Tame Impala and, as we listen, we are flooded with memories of the early aughts, a time before life brought down the anvil of responsibilities. So even if you are not a fan of modern psychedelic music, you are bound to find something you love inside of this one. Of course, you’re never going to know for sure until you press that play button, but “Autopilot” is a song that you hear once and then instantly want more.

-HD