Details:
This is one of the hardest reviews I’ve ever had to write. Now on revision number seven, and about 3 days overdue, I’m still struggling to find words to convey the pleasure I find from listening to this release. It’s not that it’s another carbon copy release, though the combination of twin guitars and drums would suggest an Oxes inspired band, it’s far from it. Whilst comparatively similar to many other releases, it maintains a difference to each artist that is significant enough to stop it falling into the clone category.
Lords are one of those bands with a style that can only be described as eccentric. Influences are obvious from the word go. “Pint of Wine” is jazz played with southern rock sensibilities, vocals that wail with a drawl like Ronnie Van Zant. It’s not off the wall but it’s slightly different none the less. I’ll be honest and say that the first time I got to the end of the track I thought it was another stoner record. The intro on “The Unfortunate Death Of The Lords” may have backed that up slightly, though there was something different. The band changes style, sounding more like Led Zeppelin, vocals stride toward the style of Robert Plant chugging through 3 minutes heavy blues. But it’s the last thirty seconds (yes I counted them out) that get you. It’s a bluegrass violin/viola duet with a slight mistiming (not unusual), but then it carries an undertone that can only be described as unhinged.
Some of you, if not a lot of you, will say that doesn’t make sense. By the time the next track rolls around you’ll see why. “Liquer” heralds what can only be described as a bad acid trip. A slight drum intro gives way to the discordant jangle of both guitars. It’s some effect, grabbing you by the collar and spinning you round like a Wurlitzer. It’s a dizzying experience. Free jazz notions come into effect as instruments fire off on their own trajectories before crashing back down into the next whiskey soaked bar with Frank Zappa crooning you. The lunacy falls away and in the end it’s like being drunk, the music swaggers around and cackles manically in your face. This drunken swagger follows through into “Miguel”, which takes on a darker tone and heavier weight, but suddenly drops into free jazz chaos, trumpets and trombones flying around, like small children who’ve recently gorged on sugar lumps.
I could go on and on about the composition of the tracks, but that would be ultimately pointless. This previous descriptions apply to all the tracks on the album in one way or another, the band will start on a jaunt, decide to have a mood, time or instrument change (all in the best possible taste). At times it can feel like the track has changed all together. This is, of course, a staple fixture of Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa, the free/avant-garde jazz musicians. However their style is sampled, the sound couldn’t be more different, tones of Willie Nelson, Led Zeppelin, .38 Special, Howling Wolf, Chris Whitley, Blackfoot. I could go on for a mile, but the bottom line is that this album’s sound stems from the blues tree. It’s just more eccentric.
Sum it up? A beautifully crafted slab of wild, daring and slightly insane rock that’s akin to being drunk whilst on acid. Enjoy.
Tracklist:
1. Pint Of Wine
2. The Unfortunate Death Of The Lords
3. Liquer
4. Mingus (Pts 1-3)
5. Ethan
6. Baijoul
7. Show Me Your Palms
8. I Want To See You Drunk And Dancing Like A Russian
9. The Ballad Of The Sightless And The Outstretched Hand
10. My Sweetheart The Horse
