Article Contributed by Yep Roc Records
Published on 2026-03-13
Today, The Third Mind — a collective where “psychedelic improvisation meets rock pedigree” (Pacific Sun) — release Spellbinder!, a companion to last year’s critically praised Right Now!. The album returns the band to the free-flowing improvisational spirit at the heart of the concept that first brought its members together: spontaneous musical conversation.
At the center of the album is the hypnotic instrumental title track “Spellbinder” (Tchad Blake Mix), inspired by the Hungarian jazz guitarist Gabor Szabo, whose work has long influenced guitarist David Immerglück.
“I’ve been a huge fan of Gabor Szabo my whole life,” Immerglück says. “When the idea came up to record ‘Spellbinder,’ it felt like a no-brainer.”
True to The Third Mind’s adventurous spirit, Immerglück later added an unexpected sonic layer using the iKaossilator synth app on his iPhone.
“I thought it needed one more element,” he laughs. “Laying it down while watching Dave and Victor’s bemused reactions gave me unending mischievous joy.”
The result is a hypnotic, free-form piece that drifts between jazz, psychedelia, and ambient soundscape.
For Dave Alvin, the track captures the essence of what The Third Mind set out to be.
“We wanted another instrumental, and an opportunity to flex our improvisational muscles,” he explains. “It was not so much about covering Gabor Szabo, but doing an improvised piece of music — that was always The Third Mind concept. If anything, this recording is as close as we’ve gotten to the original concept of the group. Right Now! and 2 (the second album) are more song-based, and the improvs are based on the songs. Spellbinder! is all based on improvisation.”
The album also revisits “Before We Say Goodbye”, expanding on the song first heard on Right Now! into something more cinematic.
Alvin initially imagined it as “a combination of a Haight-Ashbury and R&B ballad,” but the band soon found themselves leaning into the soulfulness of early ’70s R&B.
“Willie suggested adding strings, and suddenly it felt like Marvin Gaye or The Chi-Lites,” Alvin recalls.
Through sweeping arrangements recorded by Stevie Blacke, those textures come to life. Bassist Victor Krummenacher calls the result transformative:
“Stevie took Willie’s arrangement to new heights by adding an octave violin — a very Motown move. I love doing these kinds of unexpected things with this band.”
Another highlight, “Reap What You Sow,” continues the band’s tradition of honoring the legacy of blues guitarist Michael Bloomfield. Written by Bloomfield for Chicago blues legend Otis Rush, the song was recorded during the Right Now! sessions but couldn’t fit on the original vinyl release due to length constraints.
“Jesse sings it less like a blues shouter and more like a lover whispering the bad news in your ear,” Alvin says.
Krummenacher agrees: “Jesse turns out to be a fantastic blues singer, and the interplay at the end is intense and spontaneous. It’s great to finally give this track a home on vinyl.”
Spellbinder! closes with “Darkness, Darkness / The Creator Has A Master Plan”, remixed by multi-GRAMMY winning mixing engineer Tchad Blake.
Originally the centerpiece of Right Now!, the piece merges two very different songs into one expansive, cinematic performance.
“It was great to have Tchad Blake reimagine it sonically,” says Krummenacher. “Tchad is a master, and his mix brings a new dimension to these songs.”
Praised for delivering “psychedelic rock that will blow your mind” (Grateful Web) and called “a must-hear release” (Best Classic Bands), Right Now! was hailed by Glide Magazine as “their strongest yet.” The album marked the band’s most song-driven and expansive album to date.
The group’s self-titled 2020 debut album earned acclaim and introduced listeners to a fearless new collective, one that Magnet Magazine described as “not so much a supergroup as a great fucking band.”
Since then, the supergroup has evolved through studio recordings, festival appearances, and live explorations like The Third Mind – Live Mind (2025), which also featured guitarist Mark Karan (Ratdog, Phil Lesh).
Formed by GRAMMY winner Dave Alvin and Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker, Monks of Doom, Eyelids), The Third Mind also features David Immerglück (Counting Crows, John Hiatt, Monks of Doom, Camper Van Beethoven), drummer Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson, Better Than Ezra, John Cale), singer/songwriter Jesse Sykes (Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter), and special guest Willie Aron on piano and organ.
Inspired by the improvisational philosophy of Miles Davis, the band records live in a circle with no rehearsal, no written arrangements — just instinct, interplay, and trust.
