A new outing from the latest incarnation of this popular psych-dub outfit is most welcome. They're a full band now in possession of a really frisky, trippy funked-up sound. The drummer is a real groovy bastard, there's still some semblance of post-punk minimalism to proceedings but the overall sound is more straight punk-funk & psych garage inspired now, by side two comin' on like a less deranged Magic Markers/Wooden Shjips hybrid maybe? The vocals are less muddied (but still indecipherable), the basslines sturdier & more noodly and the slight tinge of weirdness about them has all but vanished. I think bits of this album also remind me of earlier Gang Gang Dance, skeletal guitar lines snake around curious bass & dub inspired drums (rimshot heavy) whilst the ghostly vocals flutter & swoop around. So, they've lost a tiny bit of individuality in the process, no longer the kooky duo, but instead, in its place you get some well-oiled ghostly tribalisms and quality rustic voodoo psych. Brett's a fan, Ant thinks they've lost all their edge. But Ant listens to amped-up cement mixers for breakfast so don't read too much into that, hoho!
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Sound clips for Make It Real by Pocahaunted: on vinyl at Norman Records UK. LP (vinyl), Not Not Fun, NNF188, £13.39.
Brand new album from Pocahaunted, the new look Pocahaunted...After a six-month hiatus, a complete line-up overhaul, a trip to SXSW, a UK/EURO tour, and a full year-plus of only playing shows and writing songs and amassing totemic objects, finally Pocahaunted return to the recorded realm with their first album since 2008. Time flies when yr having not not fun and all that. Make It Real collects seven of the band s 2009 live staples for a 40-minute-ish collage of basement body music, garage dub damage, outsider funkadelic sprawl, voodoo rhythm workouts, duo femme soul vocal dynamics, dripping gold sweat, and dream fulfillment. Recorded barefoot and shirtless and direct to tape at Green Machine Studio in summer 09 by M. Geddes Gengras and featuring guest bamboo sax by jazzmaster Alex Gray (of Dreamcolour/Deep Magic) and mastered by James Plotkin. Black vinyl LPs in jackets with warped LA post-Parliament utopia artwork by vision wizard Spencer Longo. Edition of 500 on the vinyl.
Other items by Pocahaunted
Chains Pocahaunted LP (vinyl), £12.99 Sorry - sold out.
