Finding the right music to set the tone for each episode takes some time, but sometimes I get lucky and just hear a perfect fit.

I heard The Maheekats off MySpace and there was just something about them that I couldn’t get out of my head. Their music took me back home, to a time when jumping in the car and riding around with my friends during summertime was the only thing on my mind. So combining The Maheekats and Episode 7, dating a guy from Miami, was a no-brainer.

Clarabell

Meet The Maheekats: Casey (Maheeman) Camp on the drums, bass, guitar and keyboard and Clara (Clarabell) on vocals and guitar. They have been together since 1999. Casey writes most of the music while Clarabell writes most of the lyrics and melodies. Their first drummer was Randall Marsh who is now playing with Mudcrutch. They’ve created a home studio where they write, produce, engineer, arrange and record all of their music.

Recorded over a two-year period and across three changes of residence, “God Has A Cadillac Too”, in which the track “Just Passing Through” opens PG+1’s Episode 7, is a self-produced full length CD. It is consistent, strong, spirited, surprising, enlightening and an all-round joy for the soul. Casey played most of the instruments including drums, bass, rhythm and lead guitar, keyboards and vocals. Clarabell played rhythm guitar and sings on the album.

Casey Camp

Another project was “Circle” (available by request only) that featured Brad Buley on drums on most of the tracks. They have recently upgraded their studio and are looking forward to releasing another CD in 2010.

With musicanship that is stellar, vocals that are blissful and melodies and harmonies that transcend the listener, their mission for all of humanity to become more aware of the nature that is within us and that surrounds us.

“Respect nature, respect ourselves and keep it all wild and free.”-The Maheekats

But don’t take my opinion as the end all be all, here’s what Michel Cicero of The Ventura County Reporter had to say about “God Has A Cadillac Too”, “This record makes me think of flying dreams, air conditioning and convertible Porsches. That is to say it transports me someplace cool. Day dreamy and breezy without being vacuous, it leaves space to reflect and breathe, giving the music at times a meditative groove. Torchy, lush vocals and lingering melodies sparkle like the California coast on a perfect day; a landscape the musicians are obviously familiar with. Hailing from Maheeland, a mystical portal to other dimensions located deep in the Ojai Valley, the Maheekats are Casey Camp and Clarabell (an accomplished poet), who started their project in 1999. The don’t seem to play out much, so if you want to hear them you’ll need to download their music. They call it “psychedelic dub.” I call it “good.”

I call it “good” too. To buy tunes off “God Has A Cadillac Too” click here. Or to visit The Maheekats website, go to www.maheekatmusic.com.