https://www.high-endrolex.com/18

Brant Bjork Premieres “Jungle in the Sound” from Self-Titled Album out April 10

Desert rock ambassador to the universe and stylistic figurehead Brant Bjork will release his new, self-titled, album April 10 on Heavy Psych Sounds. Preorders start today, and at the bottom of this post you’ll find the premiere of the opening track, “Jungle in the Sound.” Before that is a bio I wrote for the outing. Truth be told, I’m trying to do less of that kind of thing on the whole, in order to better prioritize this site above pretty much everything in terms of how I spend my limited mental capacity on any given day, but when it’s Brant Bjork, you don’t say no. Especially if you get to hear the record, which I did.

You’ll note that it’s self-titled. That’s significant. Bjork plays everything and of course sings on the album and thereby captures the intimate but still-rocking vibe of some of his most landmark outings, and especially considering the full-band sound he’s honed over the past seven years, going so far as to collaborate with guitarist Bubba DuPree on 2018’s Mankind Woman (review here), it’s something of a departure even though he’s still ultimately on familiar terrain. A readjustment of properties perhaps. I hear there’s some of that going around.

The album will be out on Heavy Psych Sounds, who sent along the following, including the bio I wrote:

brant bjork brant bjork

Brant Bjork – Self-Titled Album

Preorder link: https://www.heavypsychsounds.com/shop.htm#HPS129

BIO:

Even before you know it’s self-titled, and even before you read the LP liner notes, you know it’s all Brant Bjork.

The man who has become the ambassador of Californian desert rock indeed plays every instrument across his 13th studio full-length, Brant Bjork. This in itself is something of a departure from recent offerings, as on 2018’s Mankind Woman, Bjork worked closely with guitarist Bubba DuPree (Void), and both 2016’s Tao of the Devil and 2014’s Black Power Flower were constructed around the Bjork-led Low Desert Punk Band.

Maybe revisiting his 1999 debut, Jalamanta, for a Heavy Psych Sounds 20th anniversary reissue last year had some effect on Bjork’s mindset in terms of working solo, but he’s come too far in the ensuing decades to repeat himself, and the songs on Brant Bjork – recorded and mixed by Yosef Sanborn in Joshua Tree and mastered by John McBain (ex-Monster Magnet) – show that, whether it’s the mellow roll of “Duke of Dynamite” or the signature take on classic heavy rock in “Jesus Was a Bluesman” and percussion-backed funk of opener “Jungle in the Sound.” There’s no mistaking Brant Bjork, and on Brant Bjork, he strips his songwriting style to its core and brings out the organic vibe that’s made him desert rock’s most crucial practitioner.

His legacy and pedigree are unmatched, with tenures in Kyuss/Vista Chino and Fu Manchu as well as the sadly-shortlived Ché, Ten East and others, but it is Brant Bjork’s solo work that has had his greatest impact and shown him to be of inimitable character in craft and style. His unrelenting creativity and one-of-a-kind voice are writ large over the Brant Bjork LP, which is precisely how it should be, and after more than two decades of exploring out in the sands, Bjork continues to find new ways to manifest not just the landscape of the desert, but the spirit of his relationship to it.

In short, he is a master, and this is the record that bears his name. You miss it at your own peril.

Tracklisting:
JUNGLE IN THE SOUND
MARY (YOU’RE SUCH A LADY)
JESUS WAS A BLUESMAN
CLEANING OUT THE ASHTRAY
DUKE OF DYNAMITE
SHITKICKIN’ NOW
STARDUST & DIAMOND EYES
BEEN SO LONG

Today we also start the presale of 2 remastered BRANT BJORK masterpieces, both with brand new artwork:

*** PUNK ROCK GUILT – release date April 17th***
and
*** GODS & GODDESSES – release date April 24th***

The new self-titled Brant Bjork album will be RELEASED IN:

– 40 ultra ltd test press vinyl
– DELUXE EDITION: 100 ULTRA LTD COLOUR IN COLOUR TRANSPARENT RED / BLACK 12″ VINYL + DIGIPAK + T-SHIRT + PATCH + BAG + POSTER + STICKER
– 250 LTD half – half / white red vinyl
– 700 LTD (500 for german market-200 from HPS stoner online) side a – side b / white background + mix red vinyl
– LTD splatter / transparent backgroud – red splatter vinyl
– black vinyl
– digipak
– digital

Sound of Liberation & Metal Hammer proudly present:
BRANT BJORK + special guest MAIDAVALE

23.04.20 Aschaffenburg, Colos-Saal Aschaffenburg(DE)
24.04.20 Munich, Feierwerk (DE)
25.04.20 Wien, ARENA WIEN (AT)
26.04.20 Graz, p.p.c. (AT)
27.04.20 Budapest, Akvárium Klub Official (HU)
28.04.20 Linz, Stwst Stadtwerkstatt (AT)
29.04.20 Stuttgart, Universum (DE)
30.04.20 Brussels, Magasin 4 (BE)
01.05.20 London, Desertfest London (UK)
02.05.20 Nijmegen, Sonic Whip (NL)
03.05.20 Berlin, DesertFest Berlin (DE)
04.05.20 Hamburg, Knust Hamburg (DE)
05.05.20 Dortmund, Musiktheater Piano (DE)
06.05.20 Paris, Petit Bain (FR)
07.05.20 Toulouse, Le Rex de Toulouse (FR)
08.05.20 Vitoria, Hell Dorado :: El Club Sónico :: (SP)
09.05.20 Madrid, Kristonfest (SP)

https://www.facebook.com/BrantBjorkOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/brant_bjork
http://www.brantbjork.com
https://www.facebook.com/HEAVYPSYCHSOUNDS
http://www.heavypsychsounds.com
https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com

Brant Bjork, “Jungle in the Sound” official track premiere

Tags: , , , , ,

8 Responses to “Brant Bjork Premieres “Jungle in the Sound” from Self-Titled Album out April 10”

  1. Chris Norris says:

    Well hot damn this track is killer! Not many better ways to kick off your morning than with a new Brant tune and new album announcement.

  2. Dwap says:

    I’m a simple guy – if Brant announces a new album, I pre-order it immediately. Can’t wait!

  3. Jaime MacDonough says:

    Have always felt that BB sound was somehow more real and relevant than it was rhetoric- in any case I am elan over his ability to continue to produce the trusty music I’ve grown to love.

  4. HeavyPsych says:

    Some knock BB for being minimalist. They’ve missed the whole point. It’s all about vibe, rhythm and being in the zone.

    I agree, this is the ultimate way to start any day; with the news of a new BB release and a great, kinda mellowed out song!

    Mucho respect.

  5. Dominic says:

    Classic BB. Awesome vibe. Only thing it’s missing is a good solo. Like in Sweet Maria’s dreams.

  6. Jason says:

    Killa stuff, as always. Hoping I get to see a few shows around Portland, Oregon when the tour comes this way..

  7. GroveDwg says:

    Diggin this new stuff. Seems like a return to the early BB solo albums, especially like Local Angel, Keep Your Cool, etc.. I loved the “low desert punk band” stuff but it was almost getting away from what we all love about BB’s music: the groove. This seems more intimate, stripped down. A+

Leave a Reply