Hiding in Plain Sight

Although the thought may have crossed our minds and appearances can sometimes be deceiving, we will never promote or glorify drugs on this site. Nevertheless, the temptation was simply too great today not to spotlight one of the most promising bands of their generation: the talented Drugdealer.

Quiet on the set, camera rolling… and action! We’re heading to Los Angeles to meet this collective of gifted musicians led by the mustachioed and charismatic Michael Collins. The group functions more like a project, meaning the lineup is fluid and evolves with each collaboration, holding onto its mastermind and eponymous leader as its sole common denominator. Initially showing no interest in music and having no formal training, Collins originally dreamed of becoming a film director. However, back in 2010 he began his musical career under various solo projects such as Salvia Plath, RUN DMT, and Silk Rhodes.

Yet it wasn’t until 2016 that he achieved widespread recognition with his mind-altering project through a debut album, The End of Comedy. This release showcased his talents as a pianist and drew us into his retro-psychedelic pop-rock universe. Beyond his songwriting strengths, the artist’s unique approach relies on constantly inviting his musician friends to help craft his records — featuring, to name just a few, Ariel Pink, Mac DeMarco, and Weyes Blood, who was heavily featured on the excellent sophomore album Raw Honey (2019).

For his third LP, he once again surrounded himself with top-tier talent and thought big, bringing together no fewer than forty musicians to give birth to a radiant record that draws inspiration from the soul and groove sounds of the 1970s. The nine tracks flow together beautifully, carried by Collins’s soaring vocals and arrangements elevated by a diverse range of instruments, including synthesizers, saxophones, and the electric sitar. Standing out in particular are the infectious yet highly effective “Madison,” the classy and comforting “Someone to Love,” and the soothing “Pictures of You,” which features the warm, smooth vocals of Kate Bollinger.

Hiding in Plain Sight is undoubtedly the band’s most beautiful and accomplished album to date, marked — like its predecessors — by a sense of composition and songwriting that remains uniquely singular. This latest effort stands out due to the sheer cohesiveness of the tracks, with a guiding thread that never strays far from the soft-rock DNA at its core. But above all, it firmly cements Collins’s status as a lead singer — a skill he has too often sidelined in the past in favor of collaborations.

It stands as one of the finest releases of 2022, a grand cru that will only get better with age and will be remembered as a benchmark vintage in most indie guides. A soft drug to be consumed without moderation, sending us on a trip across the most beautiful dance floors of the seventies. We like it, we love it, and we’re already craving it!