(Self-released, digital)
Sometimes music can overwrite the circumstances in which one listens to it. Case in point: Hypnotika, the latest album from Burlington guitar god Bill Mullins’ surf-rock band, Barbacoa. I first listened to the record, released in January, while walking my dog on a bitterly cold and windy day. Even as three layers failed to keep me sufficiently warm, Hypnotika inspired thoughts of summer. Decidedly retro, Mullins’ music has the power to transport listeners to a landscape vastly different than the one I experienced it in. I was grateful for the warmth.
That’s not to say the album sounds entirely beachy or like something you’d hear on an ocean cruise. The source of Hypnotika‘s captivating power is in its variety. Despite abrupt stylistic and tonal shifts from song to song, the album maintains a cohesive sonic language.
Take the first two tracks: “Hypnotika” kicks off the record with a jaunty, bright guitar tone reminiscent of early R.E.M., which seems like a niche the album could comfortably occupy for its entire 24-minute run. That is, until “Easter Island” reveals there are plenty of surprises in store. The song’s slow, serene intro starts with a bit of tropical noodling before adding shakers and congas, setting the stage for a hearty but terrifically calming guitar part.
A similar juxtaposition arises later, when the album’s heaviest song, “Cave Girl,” is followed by “Drone Ranger,” quite possibly its spaciest. There’s a groove to every song on Hypnotika, and many share instrumental palettes, but it’s a credit to Mullins — who plays everything on the album himself — that you won’t leave the record feeling like you’ve heard 10 versions of the same song.
Hypnotika is, in fact, an apt title. Its tunes are effortlessly mesmerizing, allowing the listener to sink into their seductive sounds. Mullins’ songs are uniformly short, but I kept finding myself surprised when one ended. Brevity is part of the charm, sure, but I could have listened to many of these tracks for a while longer without losing interest or feeling them drag on.
Like so much great instrumental surf rock, Hypnotika has the impressionistic feel of a film score. While maybe not the best soundtrack for walking a dog in the dead of winter, its breezy tones and cool vibes induce a warmer state of mind.
Hypnotika is available on major streaming services.
This article appears in Mar 19-25, 2025.
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