Undoubtedly one of the most creative craftsmen of psychedelic music at the moment, Watson has once again proved his musical dexterity with his latest offering The Underdog under his solo project, GUM. Far from being a one-trick pony, GUM consistently solidifies the barrier between himself and his other projects, Tame Impala and Pond, ensuring he never relies on the success of those bands to further this one.
Not only is The Underdog a terrifically inspired record sonically, but Watson also illustrates that the magic truly is in the detail by pairing the sonic elements with vivid imagery and emotive language in his lyrics. Busy but never overcrowded, the layered sounds and beats interlace to create cathartic rhythms across the album.
Watson has employed a number of notable creative approaches across The Underdog, such as that of tracks like ‘S.I.A’ and ‘Trying My Best’ which build hypnotically repetitive loops – almost reminiscent of Daft Punk– to dig their claws into your brain and ensure you won’t soon stop replaying their lyrics in your head.
Meanwhile, highlights ‘Serotonin’ and ‘Rehearsed In A Dream’ offer laidback ambience melded with cosmic synth soundscapes. ‘Rehearsed In A Dream’ forgoes the pop-infused sound displayed across the rest of the album for a comparatively stripped back, subdued effort, concluding with a deliciously obscure breakdown.
Lying somewhere between a dreamlike state and another universe, The Underdog is a soothing, swirling concoction of original and inspired psych-pop. Though together they form a cohesive body of work, the individual tracks explore a range of melodic approaches, ensuring they each work equally as well apart as they do together.
9/10
