We have been reaching some record heat here in Chicagoland and even though PSL season is officially upon us, this weather has been anything but crisp and cardigan worthy.  To pair with the heatwave, I have two summer-worthy refreshing treats to enjoy.  It is high time for some cool tunes and some cold beer so let us drink from the cup of heresy.  This week’s offerings:  Drab Majesty‘s An Object In Motion and Phase Three Brewing Company’s Double Nectar.

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The Tunes:  Drab Majesty — An Object In Motion

This delightfully dreamy EP was written during a retreat to a small coastal town in Oregon and carries that sun and wave-filled feel in each of the four tracks.  Stepping slightly back from the band’s signature goth-infused sound, An Object In Motion holds a more neo-psychedelic influence.  Ringing true to its title, the songs evolve and grow yet they all flow together in a cohesive package.  The songs carry a steady flowing quality as if being carried in the motion of waves.  The opener, “Vanity,” features Rachel Goswell of shoegaze band Slowdive adding beautiful vocal harmonies and expanding on the overall ethereal quality of the EP.  This piece feels very much like a Drab Majesty song and holds more of the goth sound that listeners are used to hearing from the band.  The second track “Cape Perpetua” is instrumental and features a unique deeply contoured 12-string acoustic electric guitar.  “The Skin and the Glove” reminds me of Moby’s “Porcelain” with its almost whimsical and light nature leaning more towards pop.  The final track, “Yield to Force” is another instrumental track and it spans just over 15 minutes.  This piece takes listeners on a journey and ends with an ambient passage.  It is full of dramatics and feels more cosmic in nature with the use of strings, slide guitar, and synths.  An Object in Motion is an alluring EP that has me wondering what direction Drab Majesty is going to lean into with their next release.  I know it will be something interesting and special and unique to the duo.

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The Booze:   Phase Three Brewing Company — Double Nectar

Phase Three Brewing Company is located in Lake Zurich, Illinois (a Northern Chicago burb for those of you who are not local) and was founded just recently in 2019.  With over 400 diverse beers under their belt, Phase Three is doing very well and understandably so.  I have sampled just a few beers they are currently brewing and have been impressed with each one.  Double Nectar is my personal favorite of the ones that I have tried thus far.  This particular Double Nectar (there have been previous brews with different fruity combinations) is a fruited sour ale with mango & Sicilian lemon.  It is a fairly full bodied beer with a lighter color and thicker feel.  The flavor is strong but not overpowering.  The balance between mango and lemon is refreshing and almost tastes like an artisanal lemonade rather than a beer.  Each sip starts with mango and finishes with lemon.  While this is a sour, the taste is more sweet with a creamy feel.  There is a hint of tartness but overall the taste is very juicy. Do not let this fool you as the ABV is 7.8% and if you’ve been drinking a few in the summer sun that will sneak up on you fast!

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Cheers and blessed be,

— Angela