Album review: New Killer Kaya record Live at Wall of Fog a revelation
The West Coast has produced a plethora of the best neo-psychedelia from some of the most triumphant acts throughout the ages. With powerhouses in the realm of Osees, Ty Segall, The Warlocks, and The Brian Jonestown Massacre all still in prolific, touring machine form, Santa Barbara-tested, Austin-approved Killer Kaya has been a worthy entry into the vortex of whirling, reverberated uproar that continues a 60s legacy that is irreversibly alive and well. With the release of new LP Live At Wall Of Fog yesterday, the now-Austin residents have crafted an effort that further proves trippy expertise as well as genre-clashing, tasteful retro emulation. Recorded in a live studio setting at Austin-based Wall Of Fog by Xavier Juarez, the raw vitality of the Texas ensemble is put on full display. While a lot in the modern psychedelia playing field can feel like a rehash, the eclectic Killer Kaya dispenses a serving of both period pieces and a revelation on the current era of multi-faceted, psychotropic, audible ferocity.
Killer Kaya is rounded out by vocalist Apoorva Chiplunkar, founding guitarist and keyboardist Zach Rengert, drummer Justin Kass, guitarist George Fox, and bassist Pete Legasey, the latter formerly of Beatnik Bandits. Since a move from out West, the group has recruited a gauntlet of Central Texas musicians to begin a new era. Fresh off a recent month-long residency at east downtown indie rock stronghold, Hotel Vegas, the psych-funk outfit is quickly becoming a big draw that bridges the gap between soul, funk, psychedelic rock, stoner rock, Latin music, and many other touched sensibilities that show their heads more with every individual omen.
As conventional as it might seem to convey vibes of drug use into music, Killer Kaya plays both sides of the conversation and doses folk-induced tropes that include sounds of various regions of the world that blend together to concoct a concept with both classic psychedelic revivalism and influences from around the world. Handling vocals is classically-trained Chiplunkar, known for a dynamic range that demonstrates both technical ability and spaced-out creativity. On opening number, “Cosmic Cowgirl,” the operatic-leaning drawl from Chiplunkar is accompanied by a Middle Eastern guitar riff that sears along for the ride. A chilling delivery, some might find solace in the guidance of Kate Bush, Grace Slick, or the ethereal knack of Enya, with a pocket conveyance from the drums that carry the tune to captivating territory.
The vibrato-laced keyboards handled by guitarist and keys player Rengert that open the track “Funk Shway” are a theme throughout this haunting, tremolo-driven piece. The layering of sounds throughout this record paints an impressive snapshot of the song building abilities of the group, showing both tenacity and a taste for stacking sounds that require repeated listens to soak up every segment of enchanting instrumentation. The closing stanzas of the number eventually erupt into a cyclopean jam session before returning with a powerful closing vocal statement, and it works.
The last three cuts delve into the five-minute region, each taking their path into ultimate depuration. “Embers of the Phoenix” is a soul-stirring endeavor that airs on the side of classic ’60s sounds, taking time to let the synced backing instruments take heed of their powers as the last leg of the record makes the most urgency for every bit of its 32-minute runtime, ending on a melodious guitar solo that persists to the offering’s closure. The ultimate zenith ensues on “Gilded Menagerie,” which takes a progressive rock angle by trailing on a steady build of a poignant vocal intro interwoven by a hypnotic, tribal drum beat. Around the three-minute mark, the tempo progressively starts to spur, channeling a more sinister tone before erupting into an unhinged, noisy, fuzzed-out tsunami swelling ahead. When the smoke clears, “Disco Catharsis” ends things on a positive note, celebrating a half-hour of energy expulsion with a singalong, dance-ready finale that leaves the listener anticipating what’s next for the now Austin-local act.
Listen to Killer Kaya’s new album and their catalog wherever you stream music.
Featured photo courtesy of Killer Kaya
You must be logged in to post a comment.