King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard became the kings of the underground rock-pop scene with the 2011 EP, Willoughby’s Beach, and two albums, 12 Bar Bruise and Eyes Like The Sky. Float Along – Fill Your Lungs is a dramatic style shift. If you imagine King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard’s entire back catalogue as 13th Floor Elevators’ You’re Gonna Miss Me then Float Along – Fill Your Lungs is Canned Heat’s On The Road Again.
Opening song Head On / Pill boldly welcomes the listener into their psychedelic yurt that is filled with the arabesque guitar textures of The Beatles With Or Without You. The song doesn’t leave you in no-man’s land for too long as Stu Mackenzie’s trademark “Woooo” and affected drawl pushes to the front of the mix. Coming in at 15:59 this track is a trip but a trip worth taking.
I’m Not A Man Unless I Have A Woman is actually hilarious as it slacks along upon a bed of fuzzed out phaser with sitar like fingering over the top. Squalled out over the top are the simple and suggestive lyrics, “She’s a pound of gold (yes, I am)”. Part comedy, part summer groove this song works despite its lack of form and structure.
Vocalist and guitarist Stu Mackenzie is credited with writing all the songs on Float Along – Fill Your Lungs except for the luscious ditty Pop In My Step written by the towering blonde behemoth Craig Cook. Also, the excellent Lend Me The Past is co-written by Ambrose Kenny-Smith and Mackenzie; as the name would suggest this song embraces the psych-folk story telling of the 1960’s with elements of doo-wop. This song is an absolute album highlight the way it lets Kenny-Smith (also vocalist for The Murlocs) truly expose his epic blues rock vocals.
Why have King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard blasted our ears with over 40 songs over four releases in just over two years? I don’t know, it doesn’t make sense and neither does the stylistic shift on this album. Whatever, Float Along – Fill Your Lungs is a great listen and I am sure it will manifest beautifully in a live setting.
