Songs Of The Doomed: Some Jaded, Atavistic Freakout
Self-Released, 2022
10/10
Listen to Songs Of The Doomed: Some Jaded, Atavistic Freakout
An album inspired by the iconoclastic work of Hunter S. Thompson, Dan McCarthy brings his vibraphone skills to this ‘Gonzo Cypher’ formula of phrasing that welcomes Don Scott, Luan Phung, Daniel Fortin and Ernesto Cervini.
“Morning At Woody Creek” opens the listen with much ambience, where a warm melody is present amid the Hendrix-ish guitar playing from Scott and Phung, and “Hell’s Angels” follows with Cervini’s acrobatic drumming and Fortin’s thick bass making for a wild yet precise affair.
Further on, “Kingdom Of Fear” is textured cautiously with strong attention to mood thanks to the haunting moments, while “Strange Rumblings In Aztlan”, the best track, highlights the dynamic rhythm section alongside the expressive guitars in an abstract sort of way.
Landing near the end, “White Rabbit”, the lone cover, features vocals from Jenn McCarthy, which emits a ‘60s San Francisco demeanor, and “Evening In Woody Creek” exits the listen with a denseness that brings all the players to the very adventurous finish.
A truly unclassifiable listen, you’ll absorb folk, rock, progressive, psychedelic, and jazz sensibilities here, as McCarthy and company will have you in awe of the sheer creativity populating these unpredictable tracks.