Alien Plants: The Psychedelic Prog Rock Visionaries

Alien Plants is a British psychedelic progressive rock band known for their lush, atmospheric soundscapes and conceptual album narratives. Formed in Manchester in 2012, the group achieved a notable cult following with their 2018 debut album, which charted within the UK Independent Album Breakers Top 20.

Early career

The core duo of vocalist/guitarist Arlo Vance and synth-player Sasha Reed began writing music together while studying sound design in 2010. Their early self-released EPs, 2013's "Botanical" and 2014's "Lunar Soil," blended vintage synth textures with modern rock, attracting the attention of the independent label Kaleidoscope Sounds. The label signed Alien Plants in 2015, facilitating their first proper studio sessions.

Breakthrough

The band's breakthrough arrived in 2018 with their debut full-length album, "Chlorophyll Dreams," released on Kaleidoscope Sounds. The lead single, "Echoes in the Greenhouse," received sustained airplay on alternative radio, helping propel the album to number 18 on the UK's official Independent Album Breakers Chart. This success established Alien Plants as a fresh force in the modern prog rock scene.

Key tracks

Echoes in the Greenhouse — This breakthrough single defined their early sound with its hypnotic arpeggiated synths and ethereal vocals.

Photosynthetic — A sprawling, nine-minute epic that showcases the band's ambitious song structures and became a live favorite.

Mycelium Network (feat. Gwenno) — A celebrated collaboration with the Welsh electronic artist that expanded their audience into the indie-electronic sphere.

Petrichor — Known for its complex time signatures and atmospheric production, this track is a cornerstone of their second album.

Symbiosis — This later-career song marked a shift towards more concise, melody-driven songwriting while retaining their psychedelic edge.

Building on their debut's momentum, Alien Plants released their sophomore album, "Fruiting Bodies," in 2021. The record saw them refining their production and incorporating more elements of krautrock and ambient music. A subsequent 2023 collaborative EP with visual artist and composer Brian Eno, titled "Biome," further cemented their reputation as sonic innovators exploring the intersection of organic and electronic music.

Fans of Alien Plants' immersive sound also enjoy the work of similar UK-based artists. Radiohead shares their exploratory approach to rock music and texture. Tame Impala parallels their mastery of modern psychedelic production. Porcupine Tree represents a similar lineage of detailed, concept-driven progressive rock. The Soft Moon echoes their use of dark, driving synth-based atmospheres.

The music of Alien Plants maintains a steady presence on alternative and progressive rock radio stations. Their tracks are frequently featured in the rotations of online rock radio streams dedicated to new psychedelia and specialist independent music radio stations that champion artistically ambitious guitar-based music.

Listeners can explore the expansive sonic world of Alien Plants through the radio stations featured on our website. Tune in to discover their key tracks and latest releases on radio stations available on onairium.com.