PSYCHEDELIC PORN CRUMPETS

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are back in their most electrifying, spine-tingling, serotonin-flooding form yet; and I was lucky enough to chat with them about their creative direction on their latest EP drop The Real Contra Band and their upcoming album release Pogo Rodeo.

 Each PPC release feels like its own universe. What sparked the direction or concept behind this new EP?

“We’re trying to make as much music as possible before the robots take over. We’re ramping up for our 8th record, Pogo Rodeo! The plan was always to have two records in 2025 and with CDM being a bit darker and heavier the obvious option was to make the second one more bouncy and upbeat. I got a bunch of new toys to mess around with in the studio and tinkered away till we had a well rounded album.“ 

The Real Contra Band isn’t just a three-track drop, it’s a full-body experience. I’m not exaggerating when I say this EP feels like mainlining pure, technicolour adrenaline. Every note hits like the first time you heard “Cornflake” or “Gurzle”, that euphoric wall of noise, the blistering pace, that strange balance between chaos and control that only Psychedelic Porn Crumpets can conjure.

The opening title track “The Real Contra Band” is explosive. It sounds as if “Acid Dent” and “Tally-Ho” collided at full speed. From the opening riff, it’s like a cosmic fistfight between distortion and melody. Crunchy, punchy, and ridiculously satisfying.

Jack’s vocals cut through the fuzz like a declaration of independence; it’s the band reminding us they own the throne as the kings of psych-rock. The layering is classic PPC,  that kaleidoscopic swirl where every guitar feels alive, breathing, snarling. But tucked inside all that noise is this dry, satirical edge — when Jack sings “A lovely suntan coming on, that’s the real shit”or call themselves a “tourist at home” it’s not random. It’s tongue-in-cheek social commentary, a wink at suburban comfort and the kind of easy contentment that dulls creativity. Even the shout-outs to lattes in Canberra and railroads in the Pilbara feel like Aussie-coded absurdism, a psychedelic sketch of everyday monotony.

Your songs always hit that sweet spot between wild energy and precision. Was that something you aimed for this time, or did it come together naturally while writing?

“Thanks! After last years touring and seeing the energy the crowds were bringing I wanted to try and match their tempo. I always take a mental note of the set and how we can improve it, then I’ll write an album in that style so we have a bunch of tunes to evolve the performance.”

If “The Real Contra Band” was the ignition, “Salsa Verde” is the joyride. It’s playful and impossibly groovy. It’s the kind of song that makes you turn your speakers up way past healthy limits. It gives me flashbacks to their 2022 album release Night Gnomes in the best way.  That same slinky, effortless confidence of “Lava Lamp Pisco” or “Bob Holiday”.

There’s this bright and spicy quality to it.  It’s psychedelic but not suffocating; textured but tight. The bassline melts like liquid gold and the drums are rudely astronomical. This is PPC flexing every muscle they’ve built over almost a decade of evolution. You can hear how much fun they’re having, and it’s contagious.

Fans who fell in love with their earlier grooves will devour this EP right up. It’s that familiar energy, now distilled into something sharper, leaner and even more addictive.

There’s usually a strong sense of atmosphere in your work. Was there a particular idea or influence that guided this release?

“Auto tune, a 12 string and an Omnichord. I was getting a bit tired of my vocals and thought listeners probably would as well if we did two albums this year. So that was the first thing I wanted to work on. I found a nice little patch that sounded a bit ‘Reviover’ like, almost pitch shifted like a tape machine. Once I established that I peppered it into a few demos and it gave them a shimmer which felt refreshing. I didn’t want to over saturate it so used as many harmonic instruments as possible that matched that vibe. The 12 string was obvious, then added a sitar as a background drone and once the Omnichord was fully firing it blended in perfectly to round the album off and give it a nice vibrant atmosphere.“

You’ve been putting out music for almost a decade now. How has your process evolved since Buzz?

“Wow Buzz! Hopefully 10 fold haha. I’ve definitely got better and letting things go, not getting as upset about scrapping songs. Always looking at the larger work of the album rather than individual tunes and if something doesn’t fit I can always come back to it later. The recording process has got way better, learning what instruments sit well together and what compliments a vocal rather than gets in the way. It’s all a learning process and I’m still getting my head around it.“

The third and final song of the EP, “Manny’s Ready to Roll”  hits and it’s game over. It’s got the urgency of “Hymn for a Droid” and the melodic optimism of “Pillhouse (Papa Moonshine)”, but wrapped in this cinematic finish.

It’s the sound of a band that’s not just back, they’re re-energised. You can hear the chemistry, the fun and the absolute refusal to stagnate. The guitars soar, the percussion punches holes in your soul, and the chorus lands like an uppercut of joy. It’s the perfect closer because it doesn’t calm down, it ascends. If this doesn’t make you want to see them live, you might need medical attention. 

As a trio, these songs are perfectly sequenced.

“The Real Contra Band” re-introduces PPC as rebels, inventors, the band that never plays by the rules.”Salsa Verde” spins that rebellion into movement, colour, flavour, vitality. Followed by “Manny’s Ready to Roll” that seals it all with a grin and a burst of motion, like the credits rolling on a high-speed fever dream. Together it’s a journey of defiance to play to transcendence. It’s cohesive without being predictable. They’ve grown without sanding down their edges that made us love them in the first place. 

The Real Contra Band is short, loud, and absolutely alive. It’s the PPC formula:  riffs, mania, texture and soul all in 1 IV drip. It’s a love letter to everything they’ve ever done while also teasing where they’re heading next. Fans of High Visceral, pt 1 & 2 will feel right at home. Fans of Carpe Diem, Moonman will feel the evolution. Newcomers? They’re about to find out what it’s like to fall face-first into the most electrifying psych-rock vortex on Earth.

This EP doesn’t just slap — it possesses you.

Their next album release Pogo Rodeo is just around the corner and due to be released on October 29! So whilst you play this EP on repeat like me, you can actively shake in your boots and anticipation until they deliver yet again. 

Beyond release week, what are you most excited for: getting back on stage, connecting with fans, or just having a breather?

”We shoot off to USA on Monday for our largest tour yet, will have another album released on the same day and then if I find the time I’d very much like a game of golf. And then I’ll get cracking on the next record.“