King GIzzard & The Lizard Wizard - "Sketches Of Brunswick East"

Ok so when King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard late last year revealed we were going to be getting FIVE ALBUMS from them this year, I honestly didn't think it was happening.  Yet, here we are, in late August, about to discuss their 3rd of the year.  Not only that, but it's featuring members of Mild High Club.  We've been already here a few times this year, so I'm going to skip the usual intro.  But obviously, I'm a huge fan of these guys.  I've seen them live twice, and as far as I'm concerned they're probably the most exciting Psychedelic Rock band in the world right now.  Let's not waste any more time!

(One of so many great King Gizzard Tracks)

This surprise album starts off with “Sketches of Brunswick East 1”.  It’s a very Low-Fi intro, with a lot of the material here sounding like it was sort of just jammed out by the band alongside their guests Mild High Club.  It’s not necessarily bad though at all, this comes out like it was recorded live in one take.  It’s oddly smooth though and reminds me a lot of the band’s Paper Mache Dream Balloon” days.   The airy flute is on point and the breezy atmosphere works great.  Overall, while there isn’t a ton to this intro, it’s sweet.  Now, one thing that I certainly didn’t think I would hear this year from King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard this year is low down and sleazy 70’s funk.  But that’s exactly what we get on “Countdown”, and to be honest it actually goes really nicely with the atmosphere.  But for my liking, I really don’t feel like they didn’t push this sound far enough.  This one isn’t nearly as psychedelic or even as catchy as I would have expected to hear.  So sadly, I kind of have to give this one a thumbs down.  “Countdown” is alright and all, but it’s seriously not engaging me.  Plus, these vocals which are usually a huge plus for me end up doing a whole lot of nothing for me here.  They just sort of end up coming off sounding baked out of their mind (which I’m sure they are).  However, one thing I do have to give credit to is the Jazzy undertones to all of this.  There’s a lot of Jazz elements to this album, and it all starts right here with that wild bass solo.  On the other hand “D-Day” is a totally cool interlude from King Gizzard.  While this one is totally quiet in nature, it has a whole lot of underlying intensity to this that I can’t deny.  It’s short and all, but some of these instrumentals are seriously nasty.  The guitar solos are killer, and the keyboards are hypnotizing.  But I can’t get over the fact that this is so short.  Like, I would have loved this to be a 4-minute jam, but it’s over so quickly.   The first track that I have absolutely no issues with is “Tezeta”.  This is exactly what I wanted to hear from the band.  I love their usual, Psychedelic sounds thrown in with all of these Jazzy undertones, which come out in a big way on this track.    “Tezeta” completely soars as it moves forward.  I love how seriously on point the instrumentals and the solos are, and the very haunting layered vocals add some seriously cool elements as well.  And correct me if I’m wrong, but that IS the voice of Han-Tyumi from their “Murder of the Universe” album thrown in there as well.  But I think what makes this track comes off so well, is that King Gizzard seem to show such an appreciation for Jazz and Jazz Fusion.  The horn inclusions are so sweet and well put together.  Not to mention, these tracks continue to have a very “In The Moments” feel to them, which could very well make or break this album for you.  But that totally adds to King Gizzard’s always adventurous attitude.  Overall, “Tezeta” works great for the band.  Then we have the massive return of Funk in “Cranes, Planes, Migraines”.  Now there are some seriously weird, almost disco elements in this groove.  It’s a solid track and all, but once again, why the hell is this track a minute long.  Why couldn’t this have been fleshed out?  It’s small mistakes like this that keep me from obsessing over this album.  

    By the time “The Spider and Me” rolls around, we’re really starting to get into more spacier and far out material.  And to be honest, that’s exactly where I want to hear this album.  It still has a ton of really Jazzy and hip tones to it, especially in a whole lot of these funky guitar licks and smooth keyboards.  At the end of the day, it’s just so nice to hear King Gizzard back to a more stripped back sound and working with no gimmicks.  Some of the ad-libs in the background are amusing and give this a more Psychedelic sound.  Not to mention, even though this all has such a free sound to it, King Gizzard remain completely in control of their smooth sound. It’s a great tune.  As this album rolls on, things just continue to get more and more out there and certainly more Jazzy.  “Sketches of Brunswick East II” brings in a sort of cosmic sense that actually compliments the band wonderfully.  As for these instrumental interludes, this is much more like it.  It has a purpose, it has structure, and actually feels so much more than just a transition.  I actually really love the very laid back and warm sound of this one.  The keyboards are hip, the horns are solid, and the atmosphere is easily the best we’ve heard here by far.  Hell, I wouldn’t have minded for this one to go on longer.  Then we have “Dusk To Dawn on Lygon Street”, and I’m honestly blown away with just how much jazz influence there is here.  The ambient sounds really add quite a bit, and I love the sort of retro Pop sounding vocals.  The vocals actually to me sound like something out of the book of Ariel Pink.  I actually think as far as a softer and sweeter tune goes, “Dusk To Dawn on Lygon Street” is actually a home run for King Gizzard.  It’s not nearly as Psychedelic and experimental, and to be honest I could see this maybe getting some Indie Radio airplay.  Then we have “The Book” which on the other hand is good in a completely different way.  For anyone who just showed up to see King Gizzard at their weirdest and most bizarre, get on this track over here.  This one has a lot of the World Music influences that showed up on their “Flying Microtonal Banana” album, but also has the quirkiness of “Murder Of The Universe”.  The deadpan vocals are twisted, she of the sound effects make for a totally bizarre atmosphere, and all of this comes together wonderfully.  What this all has to do with Brunswick East is beyond me, but I’m into it.  Then out of nowhere, we get “A Journey To (S)hell”, and I mean this REALLY comes out of nowhere.  The title of this one says it all because this is by far the most intense and dark thing we’ve heard here yet by far.   The drums are heavy, and the backing vocals are at their most twisted.  But sadly, it doesn’t do nearly as much for me as I would hope.  I don’t really feel like this fits with the rest of the album at all.  And while it certainly woke me up, I’m still not sure why it’s here.  

    Thankfully, King Gizzard get back on track quickly with “Rolling Stoned”.  Now as far as the atmosphere goes, this is where I love to hear King Gizzard.  The horns here are heavenly, and I love the laid back tone of this one that makes for a stunning atmosphere.  It’s hip, but it also has a great retro vibe.  But it goes deeper than that.  Once again, “Rolling Stone” shows King Gizzard respecting these sounds as well.  Also, not to mention, the more cosmic sections of this come off seriously well.  For an instrumental, this track absolutely rules.  Then we have “You Can Be Your Silhouette”, which is a sort of quaint and much more relaxed track.  I don’t completely hate this track, but in this case, I sort of wish King Gizzard would have gone a little further with this sound.  It’s very sweet and airy and all, but I don’t feel like this is a King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard track.  Hell, this literally sounds like their attempt at elevator music.  So no, it’s not bad, but it doesn’t completely fit honestly.  “Sketches of Brunswick East III” is our finale here, which is honestly not really what I wanted to hear as an album closer.  The sluggish riff and dreary atmosphere here is far from what I expected to hear from a King Gizzard track.  I like the flutes and all, but outside of that, there isn’t too much going on here.  That all being said, this album is still very interesting and creative.  

Rating: 7.7/10

Give A Listen To: "Tezeta", 'The Spider and Me", "Sketches If Brunswick East II", "Dusk To Darn on Lygon Street"

Genre: Psychedelic Rock / Jazz Fusion

 

If You Dig This, Check Out:  King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - "Paper Mache Dream Baloon", Thee Oh Sees - "Putrifiers II", Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - "Before Today”

Overall Thoughts:  Overall, this is another really decent King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard album.  I still have my reservations about loving it completely though.  There are still a lot of really bizarre interludes that really don't need to be there to be honest.  Or in other cases, these interludes are really good, but end after a criminally short period of time.  But overall, I think this stripped down King Gizzard sound blended with elements of Jazz is actually something I would love to hear more of in the future.  But for now, this is certainly decent.