Release
date: September 14th 2018. Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Format:
CD/DD/Vinyl
Mankind
Woman – Tracklisting
1.
Chocolatize
2.
Lazy Wizards
3.
Charlie Gin
4.
Mankind Woman
5.
Pisces
6.
Swagger & Sway
7.
Somebody
8.
Pretty Hairy
9.
Brand New Old Times
10.
1968
11.
Nation Of Indica
Review
There
is no denying the pedigree and boundless talent that is Brant Bjork.
When your resume notes Kyuss and Fu Manchu amongst the countless
other projects there is no room for debate that the man is dedicated
and extremely talented. Mankind Woman is Brant’s 13th album and it
is an absolute winner. The eleven retro sounding, politically charged
tracks recorded and performed with his bandmate Bubba Dupree, along
with some other guests including his old Kyuss mate Nick Oliveri, are
a rallying point and a breath of fresh air in these tumultuous times.
The
record was recorded at various points in California and there is a
definite Cali Stoner vibe, but what is most endearing is the killer
retro-sound that the record has. It sounds as if it was recorded in
the late 60’s/early 70’s and has a funky soulful sound mixed with
the fuzzed out rock and politically fuelled subject matter of those
times, which are becoming more and more applicable to these times as
well.
To
the songs; The album opens with the fuzzed out rock and cool drum
sounds of Chocolatize
as
Brant tries to bring back a “Funky Revolution.” The next two
tracks reminded me of equal parts Cream and Eric Burdon/War. Lazy
Wizards
has
a laid back 60’s psych feel that carries through to the driving
drums and killer guitar lick of Pisces.
The latter repeatedly echoing the sentiment of being “Sick and
tired of being sick and tired.” The driving, somewhat country-esque
groove of Charlie
Gin
which
features some sweet background vocals.
The
title track, Mankind
Woman,
is an amazing bluesy track that comes in two parts. The track opens
with a slower, bluesy feel then takes a dynamic shift to a rocking
rage filled close with fuzzed out solo’s and a 60’s heavy outro.
Psychedelic guitars open and close the ultra groovy Swagger
& Sway.
Somebody
follows
and brings a funk inspired heaviness with its use of wah pedals and
deeper, darker subject matter. The outrage continues with trippy,
echo heavy vocals that give Pretty
Hairy
a
unique, psych feel. Brand
New Old Times
is
a short slice of rock that sounds like it came straight from
Haight/Ashbury with its groovy, pop feel.
1968
is
a fuzzed out slab of furious protest to all the issues with the
current state of affairs. The album closes with the big drums and
heavy fuzz of Nation
of Indica,
This
powerful, politically charged statement is a plea for peace and love
and calls out everything wrong with the current US political culture.
With
Mankind Woman, Brant Bjork has shown that the most effective protest
songs don’t have to be loud and in your face. I honestly don’t
know if we will a more heartfelt, angry, and sincere of a record as
this any time soon. Mankind Woman is not unlucky 13 for Brant Bjork,
but it is an amazing turn and a tremendous accomplishment of a record
that deserves to be heard by all. Dig on these soulful, fuzzed out
grooves!
Words by Todd Stealey
Thanks
to Claire at Purple Sage PR and Mona at All Noir PR for the promo.
Mankind Woman will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from September 14th
2018.
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