While it seems that Animal Collective is on permanent hiatus, that group's Geologist (Brian Wietz) is still making music that challenges a listener. After appearing last year on that superb record from Stephen Vitiello, Brendan Canty, and Hahn Rowe, he's back with a new solo effort on Drag City.
The awkwardly-titled Can I Get A Pack of Camel Lights? is a record that updates raga-rock for a new era. With Weitz on hurdy gurdy, these pieces all take on the same vibe as something Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones might have dreamed up a few decades ago. With a few modern touches in a smattering of cuts here, the music achieves a kind of trippy coherence. The drone of "Oracle Road" eases into the abrasive climes of "Tonic", one of the best numbers here. While the hurdy gurdy might be thought of as a vestige of flower power rockers, Weitz seems to be drawing inspiration on a few tracks here from Rhys Chatham, Band of Susans, and that ilk. The roughly energetic "RV Envy" sits nicely next to the stretched out wooziness of "Not Trad" at the mid-point of this record. Worth noting that drums throughout this release from drummers Emma Garau, Alianna Kalaba (FACS, Cat Power) and Ryan Oslance (The Dead Tongues), and bass from Dave Portner (Avey Tare of Animal Collective) keep things moving forward with a nice, dark energy.
Can I Get A Pack of Camel Lights? is likely not to appeal to every Animal Collective fan. It's also pretty invigorating for that reason. Geologist has made an album that's both intensely offputting, and one where surprisingly melodic passages appear within the drones. Highly recommended for that very reason, I say!
Can I Get A Pack of Camel Lights? by Geologist is out this week on Drag City.
[Photo: Merrick Weitz]