Tuesday, 15 June 2021

YAGOW - The Mess (Album Review)

 

Release Date: June 18th 2021. Record Label: Crazysane Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

The Mess - Tracklisting


1.The Mess

2.Doomed To Fail

3.Rise & Shine 

4.Bloom 

5.Tres Calaveras

6.Eclectic Electric

7.Getting Through - is this where the magic happens? 


Members


Marc Schönwald (Drums, Percussion)

Kai Peifer (Bass)

Jan Werner (Vocals, Guitars, Drones)


Review


The Mess is the new album from Psych Space/Stoner Rockers YAGOW and is their first new album in 4 years and it’s a welcome return from the band. The album is quite mysterious and has the right amount of adventurous spirit to bring a more modern Stoner Rock environment with the band focusing more on Space Rock and Eastern based KrautRock grooves as well.


The opening song - The Mess - is almost 6 minutes of Experimental Psych Rock with YAGOW taking their time bringing a steady of Stoner Rock sounds but also treating the listener to a “Shoegaze” style of Space Rock both in the classical sense of the genre but allowing some modern twists being added towards the the final and heavier moments of the song.


Second song - Doomed To Fail - has an 80s Alternative/Indie Rock flair with the vocals being slightly confusing at first but that soon goes quickly when the music becomes more settled and YAGOW operate as a “SHAMANIC” entity and even bring in a more subdued style of Blues Rock to join the Psychedelic Freatout they have going on this song and the rest of the album.


The album is surreal and maybe hard to fully grasp at first but the music is first-rate with YAGOW playing their way through an assorted collection of different musical elements that fit superbly well within the compounds of Psych Rock and Stoner Rock.


YAGOW excels the most on this album with songs such as: Rise & Shine, Bloom, Electric Electric and Getting Through - Is This Where The Magic Happens. I enjoyed myself more on these tracks as YAGOW throw caution to the wind and just let their music do the talking and the album becomes slightly crazier and progressive in all the right places but with YAGOW in complete control. If you dig ALL THEM WITCHES then YAGOW take things slightly further with their Spaced Out Ideas and Experimental Sounds.


The Mess is an OTT and fantastical album that have no problems enticing new fans to their cause when this album is fully released.


Excellent and Highly Recommended.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Crazysane Records for the promo.


The Mess will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Crazysane Records from June 18th 2021.


Links:


Facebook | BandCamp