Trying to pinpoint every band musically referenced by Foxygen is like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube, whilst trying to beat Garry Kasparov at chess. Grabbing some sort of ’60s and ’70s rock/pop compendium might help though, as that is where We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors Of Peace & Magic is most definitely entrenched.
No Destruction interprets piano driven rock in a similar way Beck might, and the Rolling Stones influence is no more prominent than it is here, Sam France channeling Mick Jagger like nobody’s business. On Blue Mountain, despite coming ridiculously close to plagiarising Elvis’ Suspicious Minds is a delightful psychedelic rock number and the most indulgent track on the album at just shy of six minutes. There’s a great Jim Morrison like lyrical freak out on the titular track, and the smooth Oh Yeah sees France hitting some nice falsetto before telling the band to “freak out”, sending the lead guitar into a frenetic solo.
Whereas MGMT tapped a similar vein of music and brought it into the production laden new millennium, Foxygen are purists, and it’s probably just as well. They reinterpret such deep mines of rock and pop that to add any kind of electro production element would probably bring the wheels off.
They pay homage to, rather than create a pastiche of Bowie, Lou Reed, The Animals and latter day Beatles; as well as those rockier influences there are hints of gospel to be found in the organs and harmonies. Album closer Oh No is further evidence of those assorted influences, tightly structured verse and chorus that gives way to a droning outro, ending with cascading piano and twee crooning. “If you believe in love/Everything you see is love.”
It’s not a grand departure from their previous LP, but this new offering sounds more focused, the songs more crafted; and though it all sounds familiar in some way, it’s an interesting and at times exhilarating listen.
BY GARRY WESTMORE
Best Track: Oh Yeah
If You Like These You’ll Like This: THE ROLLING STONES, The Big Chill Soundtrack VARIOUS ARTISTS, Bailing Out LITTLE BARRIE
In A Word: Indefinable
