Following 2017's folky, Krautrocky Chaos & Systems, Japanese psych group Sundays & Cybele set the controls for The Dark Side of the Moon on their 2018 release. On the Grass is an overt homage to Pink Floyd's monolithic masterpiece from 1973, even nicking its title from the lyrics to the song "Brain Damage." Essentially, the band interprets Dark Side the way His Name Is Alive wrote "Universal Frequencies" as an unofficial sequel to the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations." It seems like a homemade re-creation from memory, using whatever budget and equipment were available. As such, the overall vibe of Dark Side is channeled, but the melodies and Japanese-sung lyrics are different, and the sound quality is far from pristine. Structurally, though, the albums are nearly identical. Following the pace-setting "Young Soul," "Arms#1" is a cosmic electronic interlude in the vein of "On the Run," while the second part resembles a charged-up "Time." Sundays & Cybele do without Dark Side's sound effects or soulful backing vocals, and they play faster and heavier, delivering scorching guitar solos on tracks like the "Money"-alike "Unbalanced." While it's easy to tell which songs they're emulating, the group does add some extra elements and feelings, and taken out of context, some of the songs aren't easily recognizable as tributes. "Burning Flag" is significantly sadder and hazier than "Us and Them," while "City of Bubble" is a bright, nearly bouncy burst of sunshine taking the quasi-funky spirit of "Any Colour You Like" to new heights. On the Grass is a curious yet rewarding spin on a time-honored classic.
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