Born of
Americana blood, raised on psychedelia and ingrained with a spaghetti western
atmosphere, ZooN takes you on a deep journey through the cosmos of genre
defying rock. Released on Lighttown Fidelity Records (impressive roster by the way) based in the
Netherlands on December 19th, 2015, there is little time to include in your
best of the year lists. That's unfortunate but trivial in the big picture as ZooN
is also offered on heavyweight vinyl in classic black and red to cherish for a
lifetime.
Opener 'Darkness Falls' sets the tone with
ample steel guitar and somber vocals creating a welcoming sensation loaded with
americana flavor and touches of psychedelics. The next song 'Deep' trudges into an experimental/avant-garde
type realm while pumping up the volume it deepens the vocal melodies which ring
into a progressive array of riffs and diversify the genre boundary. Wailing
Pink Floydian riffs echo in the background as a radiant battle of lyrics eat
away the microphone.
'Down' continues on the proggy spin as
vibrating drums align a corridor of mind-boggling groove and paranoia erupting
into a facial of orgasmic psych/pop gold.
'Wood' gears up, letting the RPM’s
breathe with an enchanting blend of enthralling atmosphere loaded with keys of
grandeur, magic carpet groove and infectious vocal croons. The lyrics portray
conceptual intent and keep the listener pegged to the stereo paralyzing with
catchy chorus lines and searing with progressive edge.
'Hide' busts out with a rowdy blues
based howl slowing the pace without losing its brute capacity for charm. It's a
welcome shift from energetic anthems to retro rock n roll riffage. At this point each song becomes a new favorite track. The
bassline alone rumbles off the Richter scale walling in the building chorus and
bursting solos from smothering your senses once and for all. Progressive
Americana blues licks reflect with astonishing luster as the album blows the
mind into smithereens.
Southern
gospel twang with a Pacific Northwest attitude occupies the breathing space of 'Breathing Space'. Gloomy with a poppy
blues and an addictive melody, the song reminds me of an under known gem by the
name of 'Neoga
Blacksmith'. Check them out for a feel.
'Strike' closes the album with a warm
acoustic backdrop led by gorgeous female vocals. Beaming with sepulchral
atmosphere and strangled by an uncompromising endowment of beauty the song
closes the album with utter perfection.
Not every
day does an album come out of nowhere and inspire me like ZooN did today and I urge
anyone with an interest in music to check this out now. The Ripples run Deep
on this bad boy.
-The
Huntsman
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