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Land Mammal Post “Psychedelic Hand” Video; Slow Your Mind Out Sept. 24

LAND MAMMAL

There is an ancient Mesopotamian dictum that says, ‘Arguing with catchy songs is the provenance of jerks.’ And I’m nothing if not an adherent to ancient Mesopotamian dictums, thus you’ll not find me debating against Land Mammal‘s “Psychedelic Hand” or the accompanying video below. The song leads off the Dallas-based duo’s impending debut album, Slow Your Mind, which is set to release Sept. 24 through Kozmik Artifactz, and makes a strong statement of intent for the 10-tracker that follows, fostering traditionally-structured heavy rock and roll that touches on modern-style garage doom even as it plays to classic forms.

A guest solo from Earthless‘ Isaiah Mitchell doesn’t hurt — he posted a few I think for general use? not sure if this is one of them or what but who’s gonna say no to him anyway? — and neither does the organ from True Turner, but the core duo of singer Kinsley August and guitarist Will Weise (Bryan David plays drums and bass and co-produced the record) offer weighted-Blind Melon vibes on “Ring the Bell” and a due sense of strut to go with the slide guitar on “Fuzzy Purple Jacket,” so there’s more happening across Slow Your Mind‘s 35 minutes than hooks. But yes, those too, and that’s just fine thank you very much.

With aland mammal slow your mind style that’s way more SoCal sunshine than Texas roughneck, Land Mammal continue the procession of straight-ahead, thoughtfully arranged tracks in the mellower “One Woman to Love” and “Grow,” which presumably rounds out side A, organ — handled by Jake Dexter on most of the record, save the opener and “One Woman to Love,” where it’s Adam Pickrell — again a factor in the latter cut as August‘s vocals are highlighted. It would come as no surprise that the subsequent title-track (presumed side B leadoff) would be more rocking, and it is, but the vibe remains semi-psychedelic, a little more patient in tempo, and that works just as well to expand Slow Your Mind‘s dynamic.

Ultimately, Weise and August are more clearheaded in their intention than most current psych, which resides either on the jammier or drifitier end of that colorful spectrum, but grounded though their craft may be, they’re still able to bring a sense of atmosphere to “Right From the Start” or the sitar-meets-hard-riffs “Full Ascension” and bluesy “Sing Me a Song,” which follows in the penultimate spot. The shaker that accompanies acoustic closer “Better Days” reinforces the earlier Blind Melon comparison — an inherent compliment to August‘s performance as well, as far as I’m concerned — and wraps the album on a less wistful note than “Sing Me a Song,” but with a movement that feels natural from one track to the next, even if it’s a revisit from the band’s 2019 self-titled EP.

Slow Your Mind is well put together and makes few demands of its listenership. The songs are accessible and immediate but mostly not overbearing, and Land Mammal make their mission clear at the outset and then fulfill that through songwriting, their own playing, and the album’s clarity of production. As a first full-length, it is strikingly cohesive. They sound like a band with plans, and leave one wondering only what those might include going forward.

Video and preorder links, etc., follow here.

Please enjoy:

Land Mammal, “Psychedelic Hand” official video

Pre-order the Debut Album from Land Mammal. Available as a limited edition vinyl record (two different colors) and a digital format: https://landmammal.bandcamp.com/album/slow-your-mind

Vinyl records are courtesy of Kozmik Artifactz (Artifact 129). You can also order directly from the record label:
shop.bilocationrecords.com/index.php?a=63356
shop.bilocationrecords.com/index.php?a=63357

Full album release on September 24th.

Song written by Kinsley August and Will Weise, Produced by Land Mammal and Bryan David.

Vocals: Kinsley August, Guitar: Will Weise, Drums/bass: Bryan David, Guitar solo: Isaiah Mitchell, Organ: True Turner.

Land Mammal, Slow Your Mind (2021)

Land Mammal on Instagram

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Land Mammal on Twitter

Land Mammal website

Kozmik Artifactz website

Kozmik Artifactz on Facebook

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