Once a scrambling blur of instruments with a headbanging sing and jump around vibe, the Melbourne 7-peice King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have restructured themselves to produce an album that explores a new depth of garage psychedelic rock/pop/blues.
Fill Your Lungs is their third full-length studio album, following their quirky country/psychedelic story that was Eyes Like The Sky . We got a little insight into what direction Fill Your Lungs would take when they released the 16-minute psych jam ‘ Head On/Pill ’ and melodic ‘ 30 Past 7 ’ a few months ago.
‘Head On/Pill’ begins Fill Your Lungs . The 16-minute psych-bliss piece moves you from a slow and melodic pace to an all-out screech of guitars, bass and drums and is produced in a way in which they avoid any clutter of sound.
Moving from the instrumental based ‘Head On/Pill’, ‘ I’m Not a Man, Unless I have a Women ’ takes more of a pop approach with captivating bass, sitar and structured guitar beat capturing drums and soft distorted vocals, with soft harmonica appearing across the track.
Distorted vocals rasp “Meet me at the house, on top of the hill. I’ve got two important people that I’m ready to kill. Well I just flunked on bail so give me something better to do”, open ‘ God Is Calling Me ’. The satirical humour possessed within the lyrics, matched with brilliant psych/blues rock, creates an entertaining track that reminds listeners that these boys are not only talented but they’re able to have fun with music.
‘30 Past 7′ was the second single released from the album, and with captivating and evolving synth, sitar, guitar, drums, bass and vocals, it is a hazy, melodic dream. ‘ Let Me Mend The Past ’ is a raw garage rock/pop gem with scraping vocals, catchy keys and well-curated bass, guitar and drums.
Not one song is similar to the next, as there is a sense of division between tracks that allows you to take them in individually. ‘ Mystery Jack ’ and ‘ Pop In My Step ’ are two brilliant garage psych/pop tracks, yet the last track on the album ‘ Float Along ’ is a personal favourite. With outstanding guitar, hazy sitar, keys, bass and drums, ‘Float Along’ makes you feel as if you are floating anywhere imaginable. It progresses into heavy instrumentals before falling back into a distinctive riff with matching verses and chorus’ thrown between segments of bliss.
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard have outdone themselves. Fill Your Lungs has a track for everyone. They retain their old distinctive garage rock sound whilst exploring a new path.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Float Along – Fill Your Lungs Tour Dates
Saturday, 19th October
Corner Hotel, Richmond
Tix: Via
The Corner Hotel
Friday, 25th October
Jive, Adelaide
Tix: Via
Jive
Friday, 1st November
Alhambra Lounge, Brisbane
Tix: Via
Alhambra Lounge
Saturday, 2nd November
The Standard, Sydney
Tix: Via
The Standard
Friday, 8th November
Ya-Ya’s, Perth
Tix: Via
Ya-Ya’s
Sunday, 10th November
Mojo’s Bar, North Fremantle
Tix: Via
Mojo’s Bar
WORDS BY Blake Creighton
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