In a world saturated with bite-sized musical experiences, Yammerer's 'Erth Station Zebra' stands as a defiant monument to the power of the extended psychedelic journey. This 45-minute opus in six movements demands your full attention but rewards the effort with a swirling, hypnotic soundscape that echoes the likes of Can, The Doors, and the Velvet Underground, all filtered through the lens of a lysergic Lee Scratch Perry.
The album is not merely a collection of songs; it's an experience, a transcendent odyssey that invites the listener to explore the mysteries of its sonic universe. Yammerer, ever the mercurial bunch, engaged in what Damo Suzuki called "instant composition," improvising and capturing the music live in the studio, leaving no room for second guesses. The result is a raw, unfiltered expression of the band's creative energy, a snapshot of the present moment, aware of its own unawareness.
Jay Sunsea's heteroglossic lyrics, reminiscent of Mark E Smith and David Lynch, paint vivid pictures of a dreamlike reality, where the human condition wades through a haze of half-remembered thoughts and emotions. The music itself is a tapestry of shifting textures and rhythms, weaving in and out of focus like a psychedelic kaleidoscope. Guitars chime and distort, drums pound and clatter, and keyboards create shimmering waves of sound, all underpinned by a deep, pulsating bassline.
The six movements of 'Erth Station Zebra' take the listener on a journey through a symbolic landscape of human splendour and existential complexity. From the depths of 'The Burrow' to the celestial heights of 'Moon x 2', each movement offers a unique perspective on the human experience. 'Unknown Hand (L)' and 'Unknown Hand (R)' explore themes of self-subjugation, while 'RV WoodenStar' and 'SSDD' navigate the shifting terrain of reality, where fleeting moments mirror the impermanence of being.
Yammerer describe the collection as a "raw bedrock" from which to progress with future releases. It's a bold statement, but one that's backed up by the sheer audacity and ambition of this record. If you're looking for a quick fix, look elsewhere. But if you're willing to give yourself over to the music, to let it wash over you and carry you away, then 'Erth Station Zebra' is an experience you won't soon forget.
Released today on Docklands Speed Shop Records, 'Erth Station Zebra' is a testament to the power of improvisation and the beauty of the unexpected. It's a journey worth taking, where the direction is a way of seeing.
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