Debut full-length record from SnakeOil

Coming out of the USA, SnakeOil is the new musical project of Nick Cutrer, a musician drawn to the expansive sphere of psychedelic rock and the kaleidoscopic sounds of the 60s and 70s. Working alongside his collaborators, Nick brings together warm analogue textures, immersive atmospheres and surrealist songwriting, creating music that explores the spaces between reality and imagination.

SnakeOil first introduced itself in August with the debut single “Would You Believe Me If I Told Ya?,” quickly following it with two further singles as anticipation grew for the project’s first full-length release. The trio of singles were the first steps towards a more ambitious statement that would give Nick Cutrer and his collaborators the space to develop their musical ideas across a wider sonic canvas.

Now, with their debut album titled The Wild Side, SnakeOil brings six years of creative development into focus, delivering a colourful, genre-spanning record built around questions of truth, perception and purpose. By not viewing the album as a collection of tracks united by a single sound, The Wild Side leans into variety, allowing each song to follow its own creative compass while remaining connected through recurring questions about how people understand the world around them. Constructed over six years, the album draws inspiration from the immersive rock records of The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Pixies.

Their influence provides a useful starting point for understanding SnakeOil’s vision, where psychedelic exploration sits alongside the impact of garage rock, the adventurousness of alternative music and the more reflective qualities of folk. These elements are not confined to separate corners of the record, they move into and out of one another, giving the album a shifting character that rewards listeners who follow its changes in mood and direction. The Wild Side offers an expansive nine-track voyage into the overlap between truth and perception, with each track having its own identity, connected to the album’s central themes through the different arrangements and influences.

SnakeOil tracked the songs to magnetic tape at Oakland’s Tiny Telephone studio, channelling analogue production to give the melodies additional warmth and glow, lending itself to the project’s interest in the qualities of classic rock recordings, while the production balances colourful atmosphere with the grit and energy needed to keep the performances engaging. Kicked off by the band’s debut single “Would You Believe Me If I Told Ya?,” breezy guitar notes usher in the shuffle of drums as expressive vocal leads rings out above off-beat guitar rhythms, forming a charming surf rock jam brimming with memorable melodies and laid back rhythmic sway.

“Sleeping & Nothingness” follows with smokey guitar chords and mellow vocals, carrying picture painting lyrics as soft bass notes float below, casting hazy outing that sees the album slip further into psychedelic areas. “Matchstick” lands with the snap of crisp drums and pulse of grooving guitar chords capped by catchy vocal leads to serve up an anthemic garage rock sound packed full of angst and gritty tones. “Babylon” flows with strummed guitars as percussion patters and smooth vocals hover, progressing with atmospheric intensity and slick lead guitar flourishes.

“Dripping At The Door” forms with scratchy guitar notes before gliding with bouncy vocal leads and intricate instrumental textures before the rustle of drums injects a danceable energy to lay down an energising musical moment. With “Amber & Hazel,” the band presents an intimate detour through an airy scene of dreamy guitar chords and hushed vocals while “Marbles Of Haze” flows with a jaunty groove and retro rock vibe where Nick’s voice floats above a moody arrangement, putting the band’s sonic range on full display.

“Fate Twister” lands with the hurried plucks of bass as commanding vocals float above rolling drums, resulting in a raucous rock ride that surges with bursts of charging instrumentation. Closing the record with “Acid Rain,” the ominous tones of deep guitar notes forms a dark soundscape while trip hop-tinged rhythms propel the track through a mesmeric musical world, offering a transportive and utterly engrossing finale to SnakeOil’s superb debut record.

Listen to The Wild Side below