Citay’s “Little Kingdom” is an otherworldly place, full of psychedelic swirl, soaring harmonies and grandiose jams. It’s an epic journey, and an album that sounds out of place today- a classic in the purest sense. Like Citay’s 2006 self-titled debut, the ’70s rock sensibility is intact; Thin Lizzy, acoustic Led Zeppelin, Big Star and the Byrds all remain touchstones. But “Little Kingdom” moves further into ambitious composition, referencing Popul Vuh, “Animals”-era Pink Floyd, the Fripp-Eno collaborations, and early Mike Oldfield.
Live, Citay shakes the walls. Their grand, sweeping psychedelia is perfect headphone music, but the best way to experience Citay is through a live performance. It comes as no surprise that they dabble in sonic excess, taking their recorded work and cranking it up a notch. On this US tour they’ll be making a stop at SXSW, as well as playing alongside bands such as Sons and Daughters, Sunburned Hand of the Man, Rings and more.
MP3:
First Fantasy – http://www.scjag.com/mp3/do/firstfantasy.mp3
Hi Res images and album artwork:
http://deadoceans.com/press/citay/citaypress.php
Press from “Little Kingdom”
“Little Kingdom” is all grins and winks and exaltations, gloriously embossed with shimmering solos and high-times harmonies. – Pitchfork
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/46733-little-kingdom
Rotating acoustic guitar beds underpin a treated guitar that glides like “Morning Star” period Robert Fripp. Analogue synths drift in and out, evoking Cluster’s “Sowieso.” Overall the effect is something akin to a post-rock take on Popul Vuh’s 1975 album “Das Hohelied Salomos.” No doubt Citay will continue to evolve, but for now the majestic “Little Kingdom” is a head trip that will do just fine – Mojo
“Little Kingdom” is one of the best of 2007. – LA Record
Now let’s do some bong rips and listen to “Little Kingdom.” – Seattle Stranger
Tour Dates:
03/07/08 San Francisco, CA – The Independent  w/ Heavenly States
03/13/08 Austin, TX – South By Southwest (Dead Oceans / Jagjaguwar / Secretly Canadian showcase)
03/14/08 Austin, TX – South By Southwest
03/15/08 Houston, TX – Rudyard’s Pub  w/ Sunburned Hand of the Man
03/17/08 Atlanta, GA – The EARLÂ Â w/ Sons and Daughters, Bodies of Water
03/18/08 Knoxville, TN – Pilot Light
03/19/08 Washington DC, – The Red and The Black
03/20/08 Philadelphia, PA – The Khyber
03/21/08 New York, NY – Cake Shop  w/ Rings
03/22/08 Brooklyn, NY – Silent Barn
03/23/08 Somerville, MA – Pa’s Lounge
03/24/08 Poughkeepsie, NY – Vassar College
03/26/08 Pittsburgh, PA – Belvedere’s
03/27/08 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
03/28/08 Detroit, MI – The Pike Room
03/29/08 Chicago, IL – The Hideout  w/ Cryptacize
03/30/08 St. Louis, MO – Lemp Arts Center  w/ Jumbling Towers + Cryptacize
Links:
http://myspace.com/citay07
http://www.citay.net
http://deadoceans.com/
http://deadoceans.com/artist.php?name=citay (artist page)
John Sargeant, writing on NeuFutur as Sargeant, is the founder and editor-in-chief of NeuFutur Magazine, where he has covered independent music, PC hardware, consumer tech, and gaming culture since 1998. With over 25 years of continuous digital publishing experience, he has written thousands of hands-on game and record reviews, conducted in-depth hardware field testing, and analyzed digital media monetization trends. His work prioritizes first-hand evaluation and long-term product testing.
Beats: Independent Music, PC Gaming & Peripherals, Consumer Tech, Webmaster Tools
Testing & Ethics: All hardware, software, and media reviews are conducted through hands-on evaluation in accordance with NeuFutur’s editorial independence standards; sponsored consideration is strictly excluded from editorial ratings.
Contact: editor@neufutur.com