Brighton four-piece Michael A Grammar have hit 2014 with full force with the release of their second EP Random Vision. Recorded in guitarist Frankie Mockett’s bedroom but mastered in Brooklyn by Joe Lambert (Washed Out, Deerhunter), it is a triumphant piece of artistry.

Opener “The Day I Come Alive” sets the benchmark for the rest of the release, blending the current resurgence in shoegaze with a nostalgic sense of psychedelic-cum-stoner rock. Those familiar with the band’s live set will know the sheer enormity of their sound in relation to their relatively quiet personas; this track, from the opening “I’ve been looking for Jesus, baby” to the mammoth chorus ‘ah’s, typifies this endearing contrast and no doubt it will make an appropriate set opener.

“Suzanna” is both the simplest song and bravest of the release. Its simple 4/4 beat and funk-guitar intro could so easily sound like a band’s first nervous and scrappy jam. But the clean and tight precision with which Michael A Grammar keep control reveals their expert musicianship and moreover gives its ripping chorus extra clout. Lambert’s bass-heavy mastering gives the rhythm section a dominating force that is pervasive throughout the record, but undeniably given the spotlight in bassist Daniel Ondieki’s closing funk solo, tightly locked with John Davies’ snare-heavy drums. And really, who else ends a song with a bass solo?

Despite the colossal drops that distinguish the release, such as the classic-rock homage “Upstairs Downstairs”, there are thoughtful moments of quiet that should not be forgotten. Said song’s proggy outro blends seamlessly into a short but delicious Tame Impala-esque intermission, providing a juncture to recoup from three songs of serotonin-infused, chaotic euphoria.

Closing number ‘The Way You Move’, at eight and half minutes, gently builds from the EP’s most relaxed pace to the progy-jam that we have come to love and expect from Michael A Grammar, thus concluding the release perfectly. The band have rightfully begun tapping into London’s psychedelic scene, and with bases in both the North and South, Michael A Grammar have 2014 covered.