6: The Boule Oui
Saustex, 2022
9/10
Though there’s many unique bands in Austin these days, few will ever parallel the creativity of Churchwood, whose atypical version of rock welcomes blues, poetry, post-punk and experimental stabs that are as vibrant as ever across these 11 tracks.
The album gets off to a lively start with the title track, where Eric Bohlke’s crashing drums and Joe Doerr’s harmonica add much rhythm to the thick, rootsy flavor, and “Umbrella Man” follows with Bill Anderson’s warm, mesmerizing guitar complementing the hypnotic garage rock formula.
Deeper into the listen, “Secular Sinner” offers a melodic and Celtic influenced rocker that benefits from Phil Davidson’s violin, while “Gaslight” welcomes Matt Kelly’s agile keys to the psyche-friendly, swirling album highlight.
Landing closer to the end, the calm, mysterious “Witch Doctor” howls with a soulful quality that showcases Adam Kahan’s precise bass, and “Goin’ Home” exits with both intimacy and exploration populating the bluesy, powerful and articulate finish.
An avant-garde affair that’s eccentric in all the best ways, Churchwood’s self-described "dystopic blues" will be sure to have immense appeal for the ears that appreciate the atypical.
Travels well with: Joecephus And The George Jonestown Massacre- Snowblind In The Rising Sun; The Beaumonts- This Is Austin