Magical Mystery Tour
Look I know I’m late to this arty party, but I was asked by my friend (thanks Rich) to review it. The first ten minutes of this mind bending, trippy record is inside a ‘Crumbling Castle’ as we begin an enigmatic, and fascinating journey into a land far, far away. This sounds like a supplication, like an earnest prayer to be saved, in a psychedelic, prog rock kind of way. I recently reviewed the new Azwel record and this is similar in its approach and outlook. Polygondwanaland is home to a host of weird and wonderful creatures and instances that open up the mind and offer a perspective into what could be a parallel existence. Although the setting is fictional, the subject matters are not too far from our reality.
The title track asks, ‘ can I see the eye that sees me?’ it is quizzical and typical of the types of scenarios presented here.
We imagine as ‘nervous natives watch pompous pilgrims’ and we sail away into the night, where it all gets a little ‘Owl And The Pussycat’ with an endearing and child-like quality.
‘Inner Cell’ talks of plotting against a ruler that is out of favour with the line ‘you must not accept his sick version of life itself’ and then to be threatened with ‘I shall not move; those who try I will drink their blood’, he sounds like a positively lovely person.
Grab a dictionary my friends as we head into ‘Tetrachromacy’ which I learnt is the ability to process a fourth colour, black, alongside the usual red, green and blue. The overall feel is quite scientific and futuristic and is very skilfully written and presented. Stu Mackenzie has a calm and gentle voice throughout which is deceptive as it hides issues that are worrying and that affect us in our daily lives.
We also find a reference to Dante and his depiction of Hell and we face ‘a demented figurehead, a conduit to Satan himself’ and the very grisly ‘left to roam without their skin’.
It is a journey into literature, religion and science and we know these topics are ripe for robust debate in all circles.
Closing with a ‘Letter To Fans’ we see the band offering this record as a freebie, to share and use as they see fit, and maybe even create their own music. For those who would like to have an insight into the music industry, this may well be the hand up they have been looking for.
But for now, tonight’s story before bedtime starts like this,
One day in Poly Woly Land, Gizz wanted to sing….
King Gizzard And the Lizard Wizard – Polygondwanaland out now via Speedowax