Liverpool Psych Fest: Saturday 24 Sep

The second day of the Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia can be a tough proposition for any true cosmonaut who entered the abyss the evening before. Dragging oneself out of bed and preparing to get back on it with the early afternoon fare would be even tougher were it not for a 4pm appearance from Ultimate Painting, whose blend of 80s indie-pop and Velvets-esque garage drone is particularly pleasing. Ulrika Spacek prove another tea time hit on the Camp stage with a winning formula of sludgy rhythms and poised delicacy, which recalls Sonic Youth at times.

Talking of 80s indie, there's a treat for the many old shoegazers in the congregation with the appearance of Ride's Mark Gardener as guest with Polish space-rock collective Pure Phase Ensemble.

Also featuring Spiritualized saxophonist Ray Dickaty and a new musical director each year, it all sounds like the sort of thing that's miles better on paper but as the band slowly start to gel it's obvious this is actually pretty special. There's much here to satiate the fans of Gardener's old band as PPE phase from the churning psychedelia of Notatki to the breathless beauty of Morning Rise much like Ride did on the likes of Nowhere and Going Blank Again.

Bonnacons of Doom, photo: Stuart Moulding

Following PPE's bracing internationalism we head upstairs for the more locally sourced sounds of the Bonnacons of Doom. After what at first seems like a terminal sound issue, the Bonnacons lurch into action driven by the grinding guitar of Mugstar's Neil Murphy and the frenetic drumming of frontlady Kate Smith.

With all Doom-mongers except Smith wearing shiny orb-like masks there's a definite creepy edge to these goings-on, recalling both Goat (who they've collaborated with) and The Residents. Describing them as the de facto Psych Fest house band isn't far off and if you want noise, drone, scares and experimentalism, here's the band for you.

Also working up the drone to spectacular effect are Carlisle’s The Lucid Dream, whose battle-hardened psych is beginning to make an impact on festival crowds up and down the country. Their dub-flavoured workouts contrast nicely with Loop-esque slabs of distortion-soaked dreampop and despite their relative normal-ness compared with some others on the bill, there's a lot here to admire.

"The best band in the world!" exclaims refreshed DJ and psych-expert Andy Votel as he grabs The Skinny by the hand following a typically extraordinary set from Japanese noise veterans Acid Mothers Temple. Of course we've gotten used to this band's bonkers brilliance over the many years they've been visiting these shores but it's still possible for them to take your breath away with one squeal of Kawabata Makoto's guitar. 

Throughout the day they've been wandering through the festival like psychedelic rulers in waiting before this, their crowning, in front of a packed crowd of willing subjects. Everything is there, from glam stomping to Hawkwind gonzo rock and motorik grooves, all accompanied by masses of grey swinging hair and a parting cover of Bananarama's Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye. You want Liverpool Psych Fest in a nutshell? You've just found it.