Odyssey
Self-Released, 2019
9/10
Though the Minnesota outfit Kazyak recorded this sophomore album live, you really wouldn’t know it as Odyssey is a daring leap into psychedelic texturing with extremely tight musicianship where synth and electronics add much to the mood.
“Contravertical” starts the listen with a languid venture into psyche-rock exploration that touches on hazy ideas in its sonic warmth, and “Discover” follows with an adventurous spirit in its atypical indie-rock approach with extremely intricate guitar work.
A listen where no two songs sound that much alike, “Camouflage” finds Kazyak entering stoner rock territory with some post-rock nods, while “Zombie Dream” goes the other direction into calm slow-core that certainly gets dreamy in its blurred beauty.
Near the end, the brief “Rocket” recruits fuzzy, breezy melodies and “Be The Sun” exits the listen as dynamic as it started, with a mysterious dip into alt-folk that parallels the greatness achieved by Thom Yorke.
A fascinating, complicated listen that one can peruse repeatedly without fear of ennui, we can easily put Kazyak on a list with The Persian Leaps as some of the most exciting bands that exists in the Twin Cities today.
Travels well with: Wilco- Yankee Hotel Foxtrot; Pink Floyd- The Dark Side Of The Moon