I wanted to do this feature on Friday, because there's no amount of words that could convey the amount of love and appreciation I feel about this song. Unfortunately, life happened, so here's me on a Monday morning rushing to get this out in the world.

Liberandos' "Do Not Be Distracted" is the perfect anthem to open our global psychedelic selection. An embodiment of trippy psychedelia inspired by the sounds of our beautiful world, the song takes the hypnotic rhythmic traditions of North Africa and Indian chant and reimagines them through the duo's Southern roots background.

But who are Liberandos? Comprised of Adam Lindquist and Ben Mabry, it would be an understatement if I said the music they create is a breath of fresh air in today's saturated space. Ben is one half of the indie-folk duo Beta Radio, while Adam releases solo music under his moniker River Lume. However, in Liberandos, they converge ancient rhythms and Southern song into something truly unique. I pick influences ranging from Jose Gonzalez, Dope Lemon, and Bon Iver to Khruangbin, Dengue Fever, and Tinariwen, even some 90s grunge in Ben's vocals, but all that channeled through some mid-century tavern prism. I do hope this all makes sense.

Recurring lines like "All your past lives sneak up on you / All your white lies come home to haunt you" frame the song as both warning and reckoning. This vibe expands on the project's recurring garden imagery of fruit, snakes, and temptation. A sonic fairy tale that explores how distraction and self-deception quietly shape modern life.

“Do Not Be Distracted” is Liberandos' second-only single following their debut |Blood Orange", released on March 20th. My new favourite act.

posted by Ivo
8 h ago