THE KRISTEN CARDIASMENOS PROJECT – DOPE AFFAIR (Bandcamp) (2025)

Californian psych rock band The Kristen Caridasmenos Project is a sextet of Kristen on guitar and electric sitar (Heard on groovy opening instrumental ‘Journey to Nowhere’), Nick O’Connor on keyboards, Michael James Booker on sax, Brett Warren on bass and Chapman Stick, with two percussionists: Ryan Scott Long on drums and Mike Dillon on tablas. Barbara Luka is a guest vocalist on the P Funk (Parliament- Funkadelic that is) stride of the title track while ‘You’re Long Gone’ is a short bluesy instrumental with a serpentine guitar run and simmering organ. It’s back to the funk on ‘Jessica Rabbit’ on which saxophonist Booker struts his stuff to a funky bass line, with neat ‘question and answer’ guitar, sax and synth solos. Influences include Santana, Hendrix, Herbie Hancock and Lauryn Hill. What’s not to like on this enjoyable E.P. - check it out!