AVON’s Black on Sunshine is the third LP following Mad Marco (2016) and Dave’s Dungeon (2018), with tight song arrangements that are at once psychedelic and maintain the raw defiance that Avon stands for. Recorded and produced by James Childs in Los Angeles, the group is ready to celebrate a masterpiece!
The title track kicks off the album, exhibiting the band’s expertise in Psychedelic Rock and harmony. Featuring a guest appearance from Airbus lead singer Nick Davidge, who provides back-up vocals and guitar. James, Alfredo, and June deliver the rest with an “in your face” clarity. Meanwhile, ‘Awkwardness’ settles into an on-the-one “robot rock” quest, immediately providing the listener with classic Hernández drums, Childs’ distinctive guitar style, and bass from Kato that pins the listener down for a catchy story of humans’ inevitable lack of communication and spine due to the ease of the world’s social platforms. Next in line is the psychedelic space-rocker ‘Spacebar’, opining about being tricked and tempted by advertising to the dark web, proving the fact that nothing is for free and conveying the uncomfortable sense of being watched. ‘Never In A Million Years’ vibes out with Kato‘s monster of a bassline and Childs’ tale of rejection, conjuring Seattle and Tarantinoesque thoughts of California on the big screen! ‘Bandits‘ is a signature-style Avon standard that rhythmically punches its way through to the heart! Alfredo forces his wicked way on the drum set while James’ skillful guitar solo unleashes his chanting of “I see you, I feel you, I touch you.” 
Side two launches with ‘Ninteen Bruises’, an excellently pure Desert Rock song with dreamy instrumentation, melody, and June‘s massive hooky bassline leading a lyric that is lost on the road. ‘Super Furry Antidote’ echoes James’ early days in California, when ‘Black On Sunshine’ was indeed a band, and this track was one of its standards. It was first recorded in the UK with Portishead’s Geoff Barrow on drums at his studio in 2003. Until now, the song never saw a release, however the track stands the test of time and has found a new home with Avon. James wrote ‘Doorway’ in the wake of the Millennium: a love song so precious and special to his heart, it has taken 25 years to finally let go of it. Avon recorded the song in the UK, and they loved its 80s/‘Mannequin’ era-type vibe so much that it had to go on their ‘Black on Sunshine’ LP! Speaking of old songs, ‘Strangest Love’ was written by James with Nick Davidge in early 1993 during a wildly different time, when Nirvana were massive, and life seemed simpler. The song is marked by a solid “Regular John”-type rhythm with sexy lyrics and a fat chorus, and is again joined by its co-author, Davidge (vocals/guitar), resulting in a proper banger that is still relevant today! Performed with Avon’s unmistakable style, that is sure to become a classic Avon mantra about getting lit and leaving the lights on, the album closes out with ‘Oblivion’, leaving its listeners searching for the repeat button.