West Coast Highway Cosmic

With 2019's , Western Australia's brought blues-rock keyboardist ( , ) to replace departing guitarist . Despite its title, that record, while not remotely subdued, was still less raucous than its two predecessors as the band integrated into their sound. is titled for the 242-kilometer stretch of two-lane blacktop that runs along the southwest coast of Western Australia and bridges the recording studios has utilized since recording back in 2015. In these ten new songs, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter has thoroughly adapted to the wealth of dynamic, textural, and sonic possibilities adds to his band's sound. That now-missing second guitar isn't remotely missed. The opening title track commences with a near-Gothic church organ and high-droning analog synth before adds his slide guitar just before the rhythm section -- bassist and drummer -- enters with a thud. As the track kicks into gear, its riff recalls the of (though as a singer, is no ). The organ sound comes right out of 's "Hush" at a frenetic pace. Single "Mother Medusa" is a 4/4 psych boogie that marries vintage to with better production. dubs his guitar, adding a twinned lead to the band's crunchy plodding burn. "You're the Only One," is a spooky, trippy blues introduced by slide guitars both acoustic and electric accompanied by a heavily reverbed kick drum. The layered echo on 's voice creates its own drone as guest harmonicist wails high and lonesome in the foreground (his soulful playing comes right out of the fakebook). "You Be the Fool" borrows 's "Heartbreaker" riff, inverts it and sets up a slow, stoned, distorted choogle, while "Get Out," with its pumping upright piano, is smash- and-grab guttersnipe rock that would be right at home on ' . The set's biggest surprise is its final cut, "Evil People, Pt. 1." Though under six minutes it feels like a jam track with serpentine organ, throbbing bass, and martial tom-toms overlaid with distorted guitars in a three-chord vamp that creates a hypnotic, head-wagging pulse as sings with malevolence at the heart of the mix. His six-string duels with 's Hammond B-3 for dominance as the music melts together in a punishing swirl that brings to an overloaded boil of blasted psych blues. This aptly titled set is perfect for driving fast on long, lonely stretches of highway with the windows down and the wide-open night for company. ~ Thom Jurek