The intensely interesting King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have put the jam band scene on notice. Their new album, I'm In Your Mind Fuzz is a voraciously psychedelic piece with a strange sweetness and thrash ferocity. At moments the eclectic Australians sound at the brink of spinning uncontrollably into the atmosphere, but are held together by catchy, head-bobbing riffs and adhesive bass lines.
The first four tracks are more like a single extended track going through different movements and theme changes. Right off the bat, chaos ensues with a full band focused on a single bass-heavy progression. From there, each member seems to have their time in the spotlight, adding their own flair and contributing in Funkadelic fashion. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard's sound comes in and out of focus, magical modulated synths and wa-wa guitars providing a soundtrack to what could be the closest audible equivalent of an acid trip. The eclectic sound of "Hot Water" is juxtaposed by a flute that somehow fits in perfectly with a landscape dominated by electrically manipulated walls of sound. "Slow Jam 1" and "Her and I (Slow Jam 2)" are exactly what their titles indicate, as they are the more relaxed tracks on the album, but even they are decorated by signature spooky organ spikes, beeps and bells. If the goal was to create something unique, they have certainly accomplished the feat.
Still, to their credit, the album's eccentricities won't alienate the casual listener by being too difficult to follow. As a whole, the album solidifies King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard as a truly ambitious band who balance classic songwriting with wild experimentation.
(Heavenly)The first four tracks are more like a single extended track going through different movements and theme changes. Right off the bat, chaos ensues with a full band focused on a single bass-heavy progression. From there, each member seems to have their time in the spotlight, adding their own flair and contributing in Funkadelic fashion. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard's sound comes in and out of focus, magical modulated synths and wa-wa guitars providing a soundtrack to what could be the closest audible equivalent of an acid trip. The eclectic sound of "Hot Water" is juxtaposed by a flute that somehow fits in perfectly with a landscape dominated by electrically manipulated walls of sound. "Slow Jam 1" and "Her and I (Slow Jam 2)" are exactly what their titles indicate, as they are the more relaxed tracks on the album, but even they are decorated by signature spooky organ spikes, beeps and bells. If the goal was to create something unique, they have certainly accomplished the feat.
Still, to their credit, the album's eccentricities won't alienate the casual listener by being too difficult to follow. As a whole, the album solidifies King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard as a truly ambitious band who balance classic songwriting with wild experimentation.