Cherry Parke - "Captain Bullseye" b/w "All Around The Moon"

If you’re craving some upbeat, bubble-gummy baroque pop with a modern twist, then look no further than the new seven-inch single from New Jersey’s Cherry Parke. The two songs, “Captain Bullseye” and “All Around The Moon,” channel the kind of psychedelic sound perfected by the likes of The Moody Blues, The Zombies, and XTC alter ego The Dukes of Stratosphere. 

Principal songwriter Will Wiggins displays a strong affinity for retro-sounding guitars and keys on both tracks, with a particularly strong emphasis on the latter, as Wiggins’ nimble playing prominently guides their saccharine melodies. “Captain Bullseye” is dense sounding and well-arranged, but Wiggins’s voice and the trippy organ-sounding keys are the essence of this springy and fun track. The rich arrangements really blossom on “All Around The Moon,” sounding perfectly akin to Brian Wilson’s 1989 self-titled record, where the Beach Boy luminary rediscovered his pristine pop mojo on modern classics like “Love & Mercy.” Some angelic harmonies really dominate on the B-side, steering the sound into more whimsical territory.  “All Around The Moon” is a nice collision of several elements that make this style of 60s pop so intriguing, particularly those finer details like bells, harpsichord, and carnival-like sounds that bring the song to life. Wiggins recorded the tracks with Kevin Basko of Foxygen and Rubber Band Gun, and while the songs capture a nostalgic mood, they also share the more modern psych-pop sentiments heard on those projects.

You can purchase “Captain Bullseye” b/w “All Around The Moon” on limited edition red vinyl via Bandcamp. Both songs are also available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.