B-Side Guys

Deep beneath the forest floor, where mycelial networks whisper secrets older than language, Mars FM’s “Savior” takes root. This standout track from their debut album “The Sky Knelt to the Sea” transforms fungal intelligence into a psychedelic hymn, complete with backwards guitar and harmonium drones that feel like spores dancing on sunbeams.

The trio’s self-described sound – “a cowboy wearing a Pixies t-shirt riding a tie-dye horse” – finds perfect expression here. Zack Bauer and Zoe Larsen’s honey-dipped harmonies float above the mix like caps breaking through soil, while the production creates a sonic environment as complex as the networks they’re celebrating.

What’s particularly striking is how the arrangement mirrors mycological structures. The backwards guitar creates temporal disorientation that feels appropriate for organisms that literally digest time itself, turning death into life. When they sing “From you everything came,” the harmonium adds a sacred gravity to this scientific truth.

The lyrics eschew the typical psychedelic clichés about mushrooms in favor of something more profound. “Great web beneath my feet/Although I’ve never seen you/I know you, we are intertwined” speaks to both literal fungal networks and deeper metaphysical connections. The repetition of “Who will be our savior?” transforms from question to answer as the song progresses.

The production perfectly captures the documented intelligence of fungal networks. Each element – from Eli Wheeler’s earthy drumming to the cosmic pedal steel – contributes to a soundscape that feels both ancient and immediate. The backwards guitar in particular creates a sense of time folding in on itself, much like the cycle of “dying and living” described in the lyrics.

Mars FM’s genius lies in how they maintain groundedness while exploring elevated states. The track’s structure – with its building layers and eventual release into knowing laughter – mirrors the journey from surface-level perception to deeper understanding. The “ha ha ha” section feels less like psychedelic frivolity and more like the joy of revelation.

The song’s final movement, with its overlapping vocals asking and answering the savior question, creates a sonic representation of mycelial communication. It’s as if different parts of the network are speaking to each other, sharing information across vast underground distances.

“Savior” suggests that Mars FM has found their own unique territory in modern psychedelic music. Rather than rehashing tired tropes, they’ve created something that feels both instructive and exploratory, much like the fungi that inspired it. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most profound teachers are the ones we walk above every day.

By taking inspiration from “Fantastic Fungi” and translating it into sound, Mars FM has created more than just a song – they’ve crafted a gateway into understanding our relationship with these ancient allies. “Savior” reminds us that perhaps salvation isn’t found above, but below, in the quiet intelligence that’s been networking life together since before humans first stood upright.