Release Date: June 16th 2023. Record Label: Heavy Psych Sounds. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Long Walk Of The Navajo: Tracklisting
Long Walk Of The Navajo
Respiratory Pause
Blood Sand
Members
Gary Arce (Guitar)
Bill Stinson (Drums)
Billy Cordell (Bass)
Review
Long Walk Of The Navajo is the new album from Desert Rock legends Yawning Man and continues the Psychedelic drive that's been used on the last few albums. There's no Mario Lalli this time round. However, Billy Cordell steps in and shows that it's business as usual for the band. This is a magical and deeply moving album full of intricate Psychedelic based Desert Rock grooves with elements of Space Rock, Post-Rock, Ambient Rock and Stoner Rock.
The album has a more Progressive nature compared to their previous albums with the stunning fifteen minute plus opener Long Walk Of The Navajo allowing Yawning Man to play a more expressive and gloomier style of Desert Rock. Quite daring in places with Yawning Man using more Spaced out textures but remaining essentially part of the Desert Rock movement. The guitars can be quite jagged in places with some heavy reverb being played along the way. Ambient and Post-Rock moments offer a more grounded and realistic sound that is beautifully melodic and with a warm uplifting feeling towards the later stages of the song.
Second song Respiratory Pause continues the sombre Psych Rock melodic journey that allows the listener to become part of the Californian Desert landscape the album takes influence from. The music again is wonderfully vivid, soothing and superbly melodic with Yawning Man bringing more truthful style to the Desert Rock narrative. The album does become more abstract and heavier when the band leave the Post-Rock attitudes behind for classic sounding Instrumental extended jams. The song does have a slow paced nature but there's clever use of Ambient rhythms which we come to expect from this groundbreaking band.
Third song Blood Sand is the shortest track on the album clocking under nine minutes but there's some great use of Psychedelic Feedback and Guitar Reverb on this track which can be quite gloomy in places. Psychedelic beats and trippy Desert Rock grooves have a layer of aggression to them. With a slightly Drone based technique allowing Yawning Man to play some of the heaviest parts of the album. This is my favourite track on the album as it's classic sounding Yawning Man but the band also allow themselves the opportunity to try new things with their music.
Yawning Man are considered the godfathers of modern day Desert/Stoner Rock and they deserve their iconic and legendary status within the scene. Long Walk Of The Navajo is another great album from Yawning Man. The record is quite daring with it's different styles of Desert Rock the band have written for this album. Helped along by sublime production values, this is one of the most definitive Desert Rock albums to own right now.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Claire at Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Long Walk Of The Navajo will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Heavy Psych Sounds from Friday 16th June 2023.
Links
Official | Facebook | BandCamp
