Currently on
a tour supporting The Black Angels, which began at this year’s Austin Psych Fest,
Paris’ Wall of Death just released their LP Main
Obsession on the Psych Fest’s record label, The Reverberation Appreciation
Society. I just threw a lot of information at you, but the takeaway should be
this: we now have a French trio to sandwich between the French duo (Daft Punk)
and French quartet (Phoenix) already enjoying a successful 2013. Yum!
Now, I’m no
expert on the psychedelic music scene over in France, but if there are more
bands out there like Wall of Death then they need to start coming here. Like
now. Main Obsession is heavier than a
plate of buttered duck and the haunting lyrics throughout conjure up images of
a medieval Notre Dame choir; it almost makes me want to start thinking about possibly
changing my mind about maybe going to France. If that’s not one of the best
compliments to drop on a band, please tell me what is.
Main Obsessions was actually released
around Thanksgiving and the consensus around the internet is that it went
largely unnoticed. But it was released (re-released?) through The Reverberation
Appreciation Society on June 11, and from what I can tell the only difference
between the two albums is the spelling of the title (it is now Main Obsession without the “s”) and a
slight change in the order of the track list. Hopefully this will allow Wall of
Death to gain some traction domestically, because Main Obsession is pretty great. It’s just more psychedelic shit, but
just more psychedelic shit is not a bad thing. And in between the humming and
the droning and every other trademark quality of an album like that, there’s
just enough variety to keep you honest and awake. The 6th track, “Marble
Blues,” is a perfect example, what with its creepy lyrics sung over a basic
blues-rock riff and all. It’s eerily similar to (read: pretty much a rip-off
of) The Black Angels’ “Young Men Dead,” but if they’re okay with it than so am
I.
I guess that’s
it, as far as variety is concerned. That was quick. But – and here I’ll remind
you that I’m no expert on the scene - I don’t think variety is what you’re
looking for when you’re listening to a French psychedelic band. You probably
have some kind of idea what you’re getting yourself into, but if you don’t it’s
this: steady rhythms and drawn out chords and unhurried lyrics. A good
summation of the album occurs on the 4th track, “Tears of Rainbow.” It’s
easy to draw a parallel of sunshine mixing with rain to cause an actual rainbow
and happiness creating tears of joy after listening to this song, but to take
it further this is the song I was referring to when I mentioned a choir of
hooded men singing inside a cavernous ancient cathedral. “Tears of Rainbow”
changes pace brilliantly. The screaming lyrics and distorted guitars bookend
spells of (almost) a capella harmonizing; if this album were a movie, this song
would be that scene at the church that quickly goes from prayer service to
massacre, which is some pretty – wait for it – psychedelic shit.
If “Tears of
Rainbow” works as a summation of the album, the 7th track “Main
Obsession” is The Song You Have To Get Through. It’s a 7-minute commitment, and
much of the beginning is nothing but quiet guitar reverb and lyrics sung in a
voice that make you want to give the guy a hug. But the drums at the 3:33 and
5:08 mark get me every time; they have this “kick starting” quality about them
that set the stage for the payoff at the end of the song.
So should
you listen to this album? I don’t know. I’m not your mother; I’m not going to
tell you what to do. But yes, yes you should. You can stream the entire thing here, or listen to the song below to get a quick taste.
Grade: A-
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