This Science-Fiction Concept Album Is What the World Needs Right Now

“As the rich take to the moon / Leaving everything in ruin / Those of us that are left behind / We can do it better this time!"

That's the final verse of "Impendo Destructo," the title track of the Magic Beans' new LP. It's the Denver quartet's fifth album, and it's a departure — both musically and galactically.

"Impendo Destructo is still Magic Beans at its core, but we like to push the sound in a new direction with each release," says guitarist, vocalist and bandleader Scott Hachey, who is also the driving force behind the annual Beanstalk Music & Mountains Festival, along with bandmates Casey Russell (keyboards/vocals), Chris Duffy (bass/vocals) and Cody Wales (drums). The new album will be unleashed with a performance on Saturday, February 22, at Summit Music Hall.

"The intention," he continues, "is to be similar to a sci-fi or fantasy book or show, in the way that it takes you to another place. I love playing RPG video games or reading fantasy novels for that escape. I love letting myself get wrapped up in another world and forgetting about this one for a bit."

In that regard, the Force is with him. Tracks such as "Obscure the Sun" and "To the Pods" keep one foot grounded in the group's jam-funk tradition, while hitting escape velocity with synths that evoke everything from Dexter Wansel's futuristic funk to Daft Punk's cosmic pulse and Survive's retro-electro score for Stranger Things. At the same time, Hachey wields his guitar to champion fantasy-steeped rock like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Rush. "Our last album, Unzipped, was a lo-fi, hip-hop sort of album," he says, speaking of his bandmates Casey Russell on keyboards and vocals, Chris Duffy on bass and vocals and Cody Wales on drums."But this album is upbeat and features a lot more rock themes, reminiscent of classic rock and prog albums from the '70s and '80s. The songs are longer with a focus on the musical journey of the entire album, not radio-play singles. The process of making the album and writing the compositions took precedent over the endgame how to release the music. We just enjoyed the process of making music for what it is."

There's a dystopian element to Impendo Destructo's storyline: It involves the implosion of society, the razing of the environment and the cowardly exodus of the powerful few who are most responsible for Earth's collapse. But Hachey would rather dwell on the album's bouncy optimism.

"The power of music is to save us from ourselves," he says. "Music can realign your mindset and put you in a better place to face the world. Maybe you need a song to pump you up and lock in for a big day, or maybe you need an emotional tune to remind you that things aren’t as big as they seem, or maybe you need a love song to reinforce a relationship on the brink. That's why music is so important now. I think the world can be very overwhelming, and it’s nice to just check out sometimes and come back with new perspectives."

He adds, "There also seems to be a lot of apocalyptic scenarios being played out in the media. I just wanted to flip that around to be positive."

Magic Beans, Dizgo and Ground Loop, 7 p.m. Saturday, February 22, Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake Street. Tickets are $35-$54.