Garcia Peoples – Nightcap at Wits’ End
Beyond Beyond is Beyond – 9 October 2020
The way Garcia Peoples open their new album, Nightcap at Wits’ End, my first thought was that I had gotten a Motorhead download by mistake. The bass is incredibly heavy and practically pummeled me through the car stereo. Having lived with the album for a bit I know that’s not the case. This is a band that deals in subtlety and plays to a dynamic all their own, they are in no way simply beholden to their namesake.
Despite thunderous bass riff, Gliding Through is an appropriate way to open the album. The lyrics questioning tone certainly fits the mood of the current American nightmare, “How you gonna see the light/ When everything has gone awry?/ Trust the dream that’s in your mind/ I promise you we’ll be alright.” Easier said than done, but Garcia Peoples have always been capable of conjuring up a bit of magic.
The heavy weather that closes Gliding Through is replaced with something more akin to softly burbling brooks on Wasted Time, which is not to say the song doesn’t get heavy, it just doesn’t try to savage you into submission. That’s actually a large part of the joy to this band. The three-guitar attack of Tom Malach and Danny Arakaki has been completed with the switch of Derek Spaldo to the six-string contingent. With Andy Cush firmly established on bass, and Pat Gubler handling the keyboards and assorted other instruments, they can head to the stratosphere on a moment’s notice. Special mention must go to drummer Cesar Arakaki. There are time’s when it’s hard to believe he only has two hands.
Offering moments of transcendence, Painting a Vision That Carries offers acoustic guitars that are almost shattered by an electric blast of Townshendian proportions. The juxtaposition creates an interesting transition as the acoustic comes back to the fore before sliding into the background as the electric work takes over. Rolling Stone’s David Fricke states the case, “Expect the unexpected,” which is certainly true. Over the course of the second half of this release, the band seamlessly transitions from live-to-tape jams and studio recordings that capture lightning in a bottle.
The stable of guitar players stretch out on Crown of Thought; for almost six minutes they use harmonized double guitar riffs, spacy keys and a jazz-like approach to the drumming, all while moving the song forward. The interaction between the guitars and keyboard is a fascinating brew.
Mastering a number of disciplines on one disc shows the versatility of these six players. Creating an album that melds formats relatively seamlessly, Garcia Peoples continues to grow and prosper by doing things their own way. Nightcap At Wits’ End is an album to experience over and over again. Something new is always emerging from the mix. How many albums can you say that about?
Nightcap at Wits’ End is out now. Order via Bandcamp: https://garciapeoplesbbib.bandcamp.com/album/nightcap-at-wits-end
Photo Credit: Ethan Covey