The seasoned Anglo-American pair has completed their “psychiatric trilogy” with “Going Down to the River… To Blow My Mind,” a record featuring sharp, spontaneous rock.
Esteemed activists on the modern music scene, American Peter Buck – the legendary guitarist of R.E.M. – and British Luke Haines – a brilliant songwriter discovered in the 1990s with The Auteurs and later seen in various other bands or as a solo artist – share a strong inclination towards intellectual rock, with meticulously crafted riffs and sharply honed lyrics. Buck has already passed his sixties, while Haines is gradually approaching them. Their arteries may be aging, but their creative sap continues to flow, as evidenced by their recent collaborative journey.
Their musical partnership began with “Beat Poetry for Survivalists” (2020), a joyously chaotic affair, and was followed by “All the Kids Are Super Bummed Out” (2022), a wild and dense album delivering seventeen hard-hitting tracks. They now re-emerge with “Going Down to the River… To Blow My Mind,” billed as the third installment of a “psychiatric trilogy,” a playful term that aptly captures the delightfully twisted spirit of the entire venture. True to its title, which echoes Buck’s second solo album “I Am Back to Blow Your Mind Once Again” (2014), this new LP delivers a series of stunning mental impacts.
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The recording took place in Portland with Scott McCaughey (bass, piano, mellotron, backing vocals) and Linda Pitmon (drums, percussion, backing vocals), with the four collaborators performing together in the same room. Morgan Fisher, a former member of Mott The Hoople, makes a special guest appearance on piano in the track wittily named “Special Guest Appearance.”
More concise than its predecessor and driven by a powerful group dynamic captured live, the album—often reminiscent of The Kinks on amphetamines—channels its bursts of energy effectively. It predominantly features irresistible electric gems, filled with a gleefully caustic wit, such as the title track, “Hot Artists,” “Nuclear War,” “56 Nervous Breakdowns,” and “Me and the Octopus.”
Interspersed among these are several bittersweet ballads with hints of the Velvet Underground, like “Children of the Air,” “In Rock,” and “Papa John” (a playful tune inspired by John Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas). The overall impact is enhanced by Luke Haines’ slightly broken vocals, which continue to exert a compelling attraction.
Going Down to the River… To Blow My Mind (Cherry Red Records). Release date: July 28.
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Hi, I’m Tyler from the Decatur Metro team. I help you discover trends and emerging talents in the local music scene.
