A sophomore full release and an assortment of EPs aren’t the biggest of back catalogues to go off but it’s pretty easy to determine Dez Dare’s sound… some may think Mudhoney, others Butthole Surfers or The Melvins; however, I would say if Hawkwind wrote two-three minute punk songs, they would sound just like this and that’s a hell of a compliment!
Lots of lo-fi fuzz and melodic, space-inflected guitars fill the soundscapes just like early Hawkwind did, around the ‘Space Ritual’ era, though with ten of the thirteen tracks being between the two and three minute marks, you don’t get the long solos that pervade the works of the space lords, just a far out, psych-soaked DIY punk that’s here to take no prisoners.
Album teaser singles ‘They Scream, My Head Is So Full I Can’t Dream’, ‘1.9.8.5.’ and ‘Tyrannosaurus Shake’ perfectly show off the feel of the whole and have been chosen well for this purpose, as well as containing the opening two tracks of the release, giving an immediate familiarity for anyone who has tracked the singles prior to release – something I don’t think enough acts take into account when still properly finding their feet and fan base as an act.
Whether it’s the just sub one minute ‘(Sweet) Exhaustion’ to the longest track ‘1.9.8.5.’ at just over 5, there is a definite tone applied to the songs throughout the release that gives them an overall feeling of belonging together, for me, further enhancing the Hawkwind type qualities I mentioned above. In terms of comparing to previous releases, it errs more heavily on the psychedelic side of their sound, with a definite feel that there’s a noticeable variation, even if it is a furthering of what Dez has already done before.
While the vibe may intentionally be towards the DIY end, with a ’60s garage psych overdo, the release is well mixed and layered to deliver exactly the feeling that he wants to deliver, which hints at more work being done behind the scenes than may be initially noticeable and gives further credit to this as a release. What it comes down to is that while this may be that difficult sophomore release, the direction Dez Dare has taken with it should hopefully be one that propels him on to bigger and better stages, giving him the platform that this release deserves.
- ‘Ulysses Trash’ is released today (Friday 19 August). You can get your copy HERE.
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