The Sour Truth





The Sour Truth is a collaboration between English musicians Stanley Belton as Black Market Karma and Peter Kember as Sonic Boom. It was released on 16 August 2023 by Flower Power Records, premiering through the online magazine God Is in the TV. It is available as a 10-inch transparent vinyl record, limited to 500 copies.

The release was supported by a minimalist absence-of-presence music video layered with different film styles and analogue textures. The video makes reference to the location Dover and the legacy of Sonic Boom in Spacemen 3.

Background
The collaboration came about when Peter Kember found the track on Stanley Belton's Black Market Karma social media profile. Kember explains, "I heard this and I believe it was recorded during one of the lockdowns on Stan’s BMK Instagram page and I loved the vibe and the song. I think it’s a song most of us can relate to. Has a whiff of The Only Ones, Daniel Johnston maybe ...even a little soupçon of Beat Happening. Hearty stuff for a hungry soul. One of my fave things from the strange past few. Was a pleasure to mix. I wish I'd written it."

Stanley Belton notes, "I've loved Pete's music since I was a teenager, so to hear that he dug this tune and then have him involved with recording it has been magic. He added a pair of synths: one a sugary sweet winding melody, the other a set of airy, swelling strings. He included percussion, a bunch of other lush production elements, and also mixed it."

The music contains cycling Lo-fi guitars, stacked tremolos, shimmering vocals and sugary winding synths, laced with lyrics expressing the pain of cognitive dissonance after loving a version of someone that turned out to be a facade. It has been likened towards artists such as Spacemen 3, Panda Bear, Jesus & Mary Chain, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Spiritualized and MGMT.

The track was recorded during 2021 in their respective residences, Belton in Dover (England) and Kember in Sintra (Portugal).

Critical reception
The single has received positive reviews with ongoing interest in the collaboration and extensive radio play. It is noted the song deftly merges both Black Market Karma and Sonic Boom's signature sounds, each enhancing the other.

“''The Sour Truth isn't just a track; it's a journey where different musical pieces come together to capture the essence of psychedelic music. Black Market Karma and Sonic Boom are truly showing their musical chops here, and it's an awesome addition to their collection that's shining bright.''" – Diana Reed, Illustrate Magazine

“With an evident mastery of songwriting, composition, and production, these tracks offer a captivating journey into the realms of psychedelic soundscapes." – Djordje Miladinovic, Thoughts Words Actions

“Produced by Kember and featuring him on synth and percussion, 'The Sour Truth' is a slice of technicolour psych-pop - a trippy, kaleidoscopic and vibrantly nostalgic feel-good track.” – Selection Sorties

“Sonic Boom adds another level of quality to their already glistening and kaleidoscopic sound.” – Sound Read Six

Credits

 * Written by Stanley Belton
 * Stanley Belton – guitar, vocals, keys, synths, drums, bass
 * Peter Kember – synths, percussion on "The Sour Truth"
 * Mastered by Stanley Belton


 * The Sour Truth
 * Recorded in Dover & Sintra by Stanley Belton and Peter Kember
 * Produced by Peter Kember and Stanley Belton
 * Mixed by Peter Kember


 * Wisdom Shifter
 * Recorded, mixed and produced by Stanley Belton