UWUW (pronounced you-you) is a band from Toronto, USA that offers Psychedelic Rock sounds that fuse different genres and styles. The band’s self-titled debut album was released on October 21, 2022 via We Are Busy Bodies and contains four tracks and an expanded line-up with a horn section. The album opens with “Scattered Ashes,” which immediately immerses us in the band’s sound, skilful in blending Psychedelic Rock and Funky traits. The horns add melodic solutions to the sound, characterised by a very engaging rhythm section. The guitar-keyboard-guitar interlacing is refined and with references to 70s music, the vocals are dynamic and expressive. The longest track on the album, “Staircase To The End Of The Night,” is an epic over 13 minutes long, opening with solid drumming and a deep, load-bearing bass line. The guitar arpeggios are hypnotic and envelop the listener, and there are also interesting wind inserts that add that extra something to the sound. The vocals are warm and fit well into the musical context with lysergic refrains. The intensity increases in a musical crescendo that also develops the theme of the song by inserting valuable solos and instrumental textures that combine Psychedelia and Funk with more Rock traits. “Landlord” is a lively track with distinctly retro features, the rhythm section is enriched by tempo changes and the horns are at the centre of the melodies in the first part. Between accelerations reminiscent of Jazzy Prog, and Psychedelic parts that weave with technique and quality, the track flows nicely with a more melodic vocal. The closing “Box Office Poison” has a funkier attitude than the previous ones, with intertwining guitar and horns and a very engaging melodic vocal. The rhythm section is solid and enriched with tempo changes and percussion, while the sound ranges between Funky, Rock and Soul. A band that combines different genres and styles through its own distinctly personal sound enriched by horns. Dynamic and expressive vocal parts, solid rhythm sections and technical and sophisticated guitar-keyboard and wind instruments. A recommended listen for lovers of Psychedelic sounds with forays into Funky and Soul.
Tracklist
01. Scattered Ashes (06:05)
02. Staircase To The End Of The Night (13:04)
03. Landlord (04:44)
04. Box Office Poison (06:01)
Lineup
Jason Haberman / Bass, Keys
Jay Anderson / Drums, Percussion
Ian Blurton / Guitar, Keys, Vocals, Engineering, Mixing
Chris Cummings / Vocals on “Scattered Ashes” and “Box Office Poison“
Drew Smith / Vocals on “Staircase To The End Of The Night” and “landlord“
Jay Hay / Horn Arrangements, Saxophone
Tom Richards / Trombone
Patric McGroarty / Trumpet
Gavin Bradley Gardiner / Mastering
Sleeve Design / Nick Sewell
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