Release
date: April 20th
2020.
Label: Self Released. Format: DD
Hounds
–
Tracklisting
1.Mantra
04:05
2.She's
a Black Hole 04:12
3.Blues
Man's Face 04:08
4.Lucid
01:27
5.Torn
Up 03:23
6.Super
Big Things 03:44
7.Giant
Lady Fingers 04:07
8.Feel
Good 03:35
9.Resident
Sleeper 03:01
10.Hounds
04:47
Members
Ben
Cornel - Guitar, Vocals
Alex
Segreti - Drums, Backing Vocals
Julian
Iacovantuono - Bass, Backing Vocals
Special
Guest - Joe Segreti - Lap Steel Guitar
Review
Canadian
Stoner Rock Outfit MOOCH have aimed big with their debut album –
Hounds. As the band employed Desert/Stoner Rock icons Bubba Dupree
and Brant Bjork to produce this album. Bubba Dupree even mixes the
album. So this album has Stoner Rock running through it’s DNA and
that only adds to MOOCH Stoner Rock credentials in releasing a great
Psychedelic Stoner Rock album that even has shades of Heavy Blues
Rock which gives this album a lot of soul to match.
Hounds
is quite an easy-going album to listen to with MOOCH having an
addictive nature to their music but the band are equally adapt at
playing heavy Desert/Stoner Rock grooves with a dirty grunge
undergroove driving their music along the way. The album has a
vintage/classic feel to it with the band focusing on the Hard Rock
sounds of the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s whilst holding a modern sound as
well.
The
lead vocals from Ben have a delightful throwback vibe to them with a
Desert Rock outlook that allows this album to have a vibrant
approach. The top-notch production allows MOOCH to be supremely
confident from start to finish no matter what style of Rock music
they employ on this album.
You
would assume with Brant Bjork being involved that MOOCH would employ
a KYUSS style delivery or influence on this album but the band take
influence from bands such as The Doors, Led Zepp and Soundgarden to
the more legendary Stoner Rock bands and that’s another great
reason why MOOCH deserver your attention.
The
songs held on MOOCH are creatively different to each other with many
different variants of Desert/Stoner Rock being used and offering a
fresh perspective on the old tired cliches we hear within the Stoner
Rock scene. Especially on songs such as: She’s A Black Hole, Blues
Man Face, Torn Up, Giant Lady Fingers, Resident Sleeper and Hounds.
Though
it’s the overall musical journey that MOOCH take the listener upon
that’s the real standout here with Hounds being a step-up above the
normal debut Stoner Rock albums that have been released recently.
My
advice is take a chance on MOOCH and you will be listening to this
album for days. If they’re good enough for Brant Bjork and Bubba
Dupree then MOOCH deserve your god-damn attention…..
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
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