High Rise

High Rise are a Japanese psychedelic trio that deliver heavy hitting blasts of noise and fury, along with blistering cyclical guitar solos.  These guys are the definition of Japanese hard psych but rather than follow in the tradition of Japanese bands such as Blues Creation or Flower Travelin' Band, they take a more experimental noise rock route.  They favor live performance over studio craftsmanship and take influence from free jazz soloing rather than Black Sabbath or more conventional 70s riffage.

Guitarist Munehiro Nirito has said that he wouldn't encourage anyone to drive while listening to High Rise (although I've done it myself) and I can understand why.  High Rise at their best are the electric personification of spinning out of control.  The chords set a chugging pace for the band to start their drive, but as every song progresses it inevitably explodes into a slashing spiral of noise.  The vocals are always drowned out by the lead guitar, which is really the focus of the songs.  The bass lines chug along while syncing with the drums pounding out a rhythm similar to an engine firing, until Nirito inevitably squeals in, riding on an out of control Wah- Wah solo.  When this happens the band explodes into a thrashing whirlwind of noise, together and unified, but lost in the chaos of their own sonic storm.  It is aggressive, loud, searing, and overwhelming.  It is not a style of music for everyone and it will most certainly put you on edge and perhaps make you uncomfortable, however the pure energy and musicianship of the band is undeniable.

The band is meant to be experienced live, and while this does not diminish their studio records it does clue you in to how they are meant to be heard.  So if you only listen to one High Rise record make it the live record.

      

Milk Music

Okay, I'll confess.  I wouldn't use the term psychedelic to describe Milk Music.  However, when I first heard the bands debut 12" ("Beyond Living") I listened to it for a week straight.  Nothing else.  I have not heard such an original rock band in a very, very long time. So for that I'm writing about this excellent group.

Milk Music have emerged from the new buds sprouting up in the wet and wooded corners of Olympia Washington (state that is).  The Olympia scene has a long history of grungy punk outsider music and in that sense not much has changed.  But what has is the scope of influence that has crept into this isolated community.  What was once home to bare bones punk rage is now stage for bands with a wider vocabulary of influence.   Don't get me wrong, the punk rage is still very much alive but elements of shoegaze, psychedelia, and classic rock are now mixing in.  Milk Music is an excellent example of this.  Still maintaining punk rock thrash but mixing in between incredibly melodic lead lines drenched in fuzz.  Singer Alex Coxen still howls out angsty yelps but instead of songs of rage, Coxen's lyrics  are focused on the cosmic and the unknowable and how to exist in a world that ignores these eternal struggles.  Instead of lamenting, Coxen and Milk Music have set out to claim ownership of their own path, musically and spiritually.

Their latest album "Cruise Your Illusion" is an example of a band coming into their own thematically and sonically.  The song writing has improved drastically and so has the playing.  Fully embracing their love of Neil Young and Meat Puppets, the band has slowly changed from outsiders to outlaws.  They may not be robbing banks but they are living life on their own terms, taking on a serious touring regiment over the last few years.  It is clear that life on the road and pursuing their own path is the core of the record with tracks like "Illegal and Free" and the heavy head banger "Cruising with God".

Stylistically the band has grown as well.  Tracks like "Caged Dog Runs Free" and "Runaway" adapt Crazy Horse style jams and fit them nicely into the Milk Music world.  Songs like "New Lease on Love" and "I've Got a Wild Feeling" take the uptempo thrash that Milk Music does so well and progress it to the next level.  While tunes like "Dogchild" and "the Final Scene" take a Post Punk stab at country rock and even a hints of Doo Wop.  If anything, the band is doing an excellent job of genre bending while maintaining the elements of their sound that are completely their own.

Despite all of the references and comparisons I've made, Milk Music are not imitators or montage artists.  The influence is there but it has been processed and assimilated into the sound of a band that continue to grow and push themselves.  Refusing to be pigeonholed or to confine to anyone's expectations Milk Music keep pumping out infectious riffage and solid songs.  "Cruise Your Illusion" does not rely on studio trickery in the slightest, it is just the sound of a tight and concise band performing their songs with energy and attack.  I for one look forward to what the band has to deliver next.

Check out some of the tunes below.