Music can, and does, serve many a purpose for the listener. The active listener, that is – those of us who listen to music actively, and by that I mean we listen in the foreground rather than the background. We pay close attention, as the music serves a purpose. The purpose varies from listener to listener, and from situation to situation. No matter what it is, good or bad, happy or sad, there is a perfect song, a perfect album, a perfect soundtrack to accompany that very specific scenario, feeling, or state of mind. Sometimes you just need a heavy dose of rock and roll to cure whatever is ailing you. Family or loved one grinding your gears? Work bringing you down? Is your town on fire? Try the tried and true catharsis of sludge fuzz.
This week’s album arrived just when it needed to, right when I needed it most. Los Angeles quintet Here Lies Man return with their sophomore effort, picking up where their 2017 debut left off, and still questioning listeners with, “What if Black Sabbath played Afrobeat?” Here Lies Man was co-founded by Marcos Garcia (guitar, bass, keys, vocals) of Antibalas, and former Antibalas member (and son of Herbie Mann) Geoff Mann (drums, percussion, bass). Garcia and Mann are joined by Richard Panta and Reinaldo DeJesus on congas, and Victor Axelrod on keyboards. The five seasoned musicians meld the heaviness of classic ’60s and ’70s-inspired psychedelia with the traditional polyrhythms of Afrobeat to create an amalgam of funk heaviness. The record meanders some, seamlessly blending styles and flavors into one cohesive, necessary offering. Play it loud and play it often. Pick it up directly from the label or at your favorite local independent record store, while you still can.
“You Will Know Nothing” is available Friday, June 15, thanks to Riding Easy Records, as a digital download in your choice of various high quality formats (320K MP3, FLAC, or ALAC), on compact disc and on vinyl in a standard black colorway. There are also two limited edition bundles, both on clear vinyl. The first is the record, on its own, limited to 300 copies, and the second is a deluxe edition and includes the record and an 11×11 booklet.
Recommended for fans of touring companions Earthless and Fu Manchu, King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Wooden Shjips, and of course Black Sabbath and Afrobeat.
Jon E. Lynch[email protected]
