Release
date: February 24th
2016. Label: Spira Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Mad
Marco – Tracklisting
Fallen
Gotta
Go
Mad
Marco (El Torino)
Smash
Em Down
I've
Seen Her Face
I
Wouldn't Mind
Yvonne
The Avon Lady
Everyone
For Themselves
Never
Again
Bloodlike
Rain
Band
Members:
Alfredo
Hernández
James
Childs
Charles
Pasarell
Review:
Avon
has quite the Desert/Stoner Rock pedigree in their line-up. You have
Alfredo Hernández (QOTSA, Kyuss), James Childs (Airbus, Lakota) and
Charles Pasarell (Waxy, Lakota) forming this raw psych based power
trio. Avon are about to release their debut album – Mad Marco. So
what people can expect from this new combo. Well if you’re a fan of
old school Desert/Stoner Rock with a hint of vintage Psychedelia then
you’re going to have a huge amount of fun with this album.
These
guys actually helped create some of the best and most memorable music
from the Desert Rock/Stoner Rock scene over the last twenty years or
so. These guys are seasoned musicians doing what they do. Cool desert
riffs always sound good when done right. And that’s what Avon
proves time and time again. Desert/Stoner Rock the way it’s meant
to be played.
Opening
track – Fallen – is a throwback to the golden era of
Desert/Stoner Rock where lyrics were just as important as the riffs.
It has a cool QOTSA vibe but played with a lo-fi edge. Avon makes you
feel instantly at home by playing fast-paced riffs and high energy
vocals to get you into Stoner Rock mood. The drumming is fantastic
through out. Would you expect anything else with Alfredo Hernandez on
drums. He’s the main driving force of this combo. His drumming
gives these guys a hard rocking engine for Charles and James to
create their riffs upon.
Second
track – Gotta Go – opts for a more dirty stripped back approach
though the Desert Rock sounds are still there for everyone to hear.
The vocals have a slight garage rock feel but it’s still undeniably
fun and shows you that Avon do offer something new. Loud, raw and
psychedelic grooves with the guys creating one of the albums standout
tracks.
Third
track – Mad Marco – is perhaps where the guys start to create
their own sound. Trippy psych vocals and haunting desert/stoner rock
grooves with a slight grunge exterior. The production could of done
with more volume but I have a feeling the guys wanted their music to
sound vintage in some ways. It’s another stand-out track on the
album perhaps my fave song on the album.
Fourth
track – Smash Em Down – feels like a song QOTSA of old would have
made back in the day. The vocals are superb as the band adds a
classic rock feel with a sneering punk attitude. Its lo-fi and dirty
but it works to the bands favour as the song feels it’s been
recorded in an old abandoned warehouse of some sort. Don’t worry it
still sounds fantastic.
Fifth
track – I’ve Seen Her Face – is another trippy and majestic
offering from Avon. Shades of classic sounding Psych Rock with a
semi-acoustic guitar and Alfredo’s superb drumming show a different
side to Avon. It’s perhaps Avon’s most personal song on the album
as the lyrics can be quite emotional at times. The song has a soulful
blues rock vibe towards the end.
Other
great songs to check out are: No One But You, Yvonne The Avon Lady,
Never Again and Bloodlike Rain prove Avon have created a stunning set
of songs equally as good as the first half of the album. It sees the
band create and explore more hazy Desert/Stoner Rock sounds with a
real vintage quality. The production is handled superbly well through
out. Mad Marco is a masterclass of Desert/Stoner Rock that will
appeal to both old and new fans of the genres. It’s an album
created for the Desert/Stoner Rock scene by some of the most highly
influential people from the scene itself. What more could you
possibly ask for.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to James Childs for the promo. Mad Marco will be available to buy on
CD/DD/Vinyl from Spira Records.
Links:
