Asheville-based instrumental psych outfit Marmalade Knives’ sophomore record, Paradigm Lost, is out today (27 September 2025) via Electric Valley Records, available on vinyl and across all major streaming platforms. Originally formed in the mountains of Santa Cruz, CA, the group draw inspiration from the pastoral vistas of Popol Vuh, the thunderous drive of Neu!, the jazzy atmospheres of Annexus Quam, and the proggy grandeur of Amon Düül II.
Clinton Wilkins, the band’s co-founder and guitarist, reflects:
“‘Paradigm Lost’ is a liturgy of a heavy psychedelic song cycle aimed at ritual absolution and uplift for all our planet’s people. A psychedelic mass, a call to meditation (‘Invocation’) for the masses bound by illusion (‘Maya’) and grief and loss yet awakened and empowered through trials (‘The Appalachia Codex,’ ‘Sacramental Lamb’), finally arriving at consolidated strength, nourishment, and harvest (‘November’). Conveyed by a symphony of guitar overload and hard psych/prog rhythms, this is a vision that acknowledges the plaintive and dark but presses onward and upward in search of a human empyrean.”
Originally formed in the mountains of Santa Cruz, CA, Marmalade Knives began as a collaboration between guitarists Clinton Wilkins and Justin Spivey, united by a passion for exploring the outer reaches of psychedelic music. Their creative partnership soon became a trio with the addition of longtime LA/SF psych scene aficionado and bass savant Mark Robinson before expanding into a full-on ensemble of local freak-rock ’n’ rollers.
In the summer of 2018, Marmalade Knives recorded their debut album, Amnesia, which was released via Electric Valley Records in 2020. A sprawling tapestry of classically inspired progressive psychedelia, Amnesia is a voyage through a mythical cosmic rock universe, layered with dense squalls of abstract sound collage and fields of freeform freakouts, all colored with old-world folk melodies/modalities and pulsing with a funky rhythm section.
The years that immediately followed saw more change. Wilkins, who honed his craft under the guidance of acclaimed minimalist and microtonal composer David First (member of cult NYC no-wave legends The Notekillers), left the mountains of Santa Cruz for those of Asheville, NC; and Adam Kriney (The Golden Grass, La Otracina), who helmed the production and mixing of the debut from NYC, added his drumming wizardry to the lineup for the follow-up; and finally, Zachariah Blackwell (Danava, Lecherous Gaze, Rocky MTN Roller) became another powerhouse bass-playing contributor for the band.
Paradigm Lost, the awaited follow-up full-length, is a majestic expression of contemporary progressive psychedelia and a musical ritual of absolution and uplift. There is a universe inside of Paradigm Lost. A sonic atmosphere and creative imagination into fantastical realms and ancient melodies long since forged, yet a reverberation and furtherance of the TRUE progressive psychedelic SOURCE and KNOWLEDGE into right NOW. The tracks weave a symphony of searing guitar overload and hard prog rhythms, drifting through ambient lysergic fog into realms of jazzed-heavy rock and kraut-infused wizardry. “Welcome, friend. Tread lightly, stay long,” beckons Marmalade Knives.
Track Listing:
1. Invocation [Listen]
2. Maya [Listen]
3. The Appalachia Codex
4. Sacramental Lamb
5. November
6. [Pealing in Tongues]
7. Paradigm Lost
Album Credits:
Clinton Wilkins: Electric guitar (all tracks), synth (track 4), and 12-string acoustic (track 7).
Adam Kriney: Drums/percussion (all but track 6) and keyboard (track 3).
Mark Robinson: Bass guitar (tracks 1-5) and 6-string acoustic (track 7).
Zachariah Blackwell: Bass guitar (track 7)
All songs written by Clinton Wilkins/Adam Kriney, except “Paradigm Lost,” written by Mark Robinson/Clinton Wilkins.
Basic tracks recorded by Adam Kriney in January 2021 at IFTK Mobile Lab, Asheville, NC; additional drum/percussion/keyboard tracks recorded by Adam Kriney at IFTK Mobile Lab, NY, NY.
Additional guitar tracks recorded by Clinton Wilkins in Asheville, NC; bass guitar tracks recorded by Mark Robinson in Felton, CA, and by Clinton Wilkins in Asheville, NC.
Produced by Adam Kriney.
Mixed by Adam Kriney at IFTK Mobile Lab, NY, NY.
Mastered by JJ Golden, May 2025.
Photography by Mitch Meseke.
Logo by Lucy Burrows.
Artwork/sleeve design by Sam Robbins, Clinton Wilkins, and Adam Kriney.
Marmalade Knives:
https://www.facebook.com/MarmaladeKnives
https://www.instagram.com/marmaladeknives
Electric Valley Records:
https://linktr.ee/electricvalley
https://www.electricvalleyrecords.com
https://evrecords.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/electricvalleyrecords
https://www.instagram.com/electricvalleyrecords
https://www.threads.net/@electricvalleyrecords
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