Odd West
Shinkoyo, 2020
8/10
The guitarist Jason McMahon has an impressive resume, playing with Skeleton, Janka Nabay & the Bubu Gang, and Chairlift, and with Odd West McMahon unplugs his guitar for an incredible display of 6 string prowess.
“Old Career In An Old Town” starts the listen with dreamy, hypnotic guitar acrobatics that few could replicate, and this sublime delivery continues to the hand clapping and angelic, wordless vocals of “If It Rhymes, It’s True”.
Further on, “The Sky For Falling” trims the pace back with experimental- almost New Age- soothing qualities, while “The Ballad Of Fat Lightning” certainly retains a ballad quality with shimmering beauty and precision. “Big Earth”, one of the album highlights, then displays his unparalleled finger picking alongside surreal singing, that again doesn’t use any actual words but has plenty of effect.
Near the end, “Ambisinistrous” is a sparse delivery of sweeping beauty with Spanish influences, and “Never Stop Exploding” ends the listen with a somewhat darker appeal, as the lone electric guitar solo pairs well with the rich, inventive music.
Part Americana, park folk and with traces of rock, New Age, jazz and chamber sounds, Odd West is an ambitious and exciting journey, where each tune brings new surprises that are as mesmerizing as they are timeless.
Travels well with: William Tyler- Goes West; Damien Jurardo- In The Shape Of A Storm