Wucan is a German female fronted band that offers Heavy sounds with flute and a retro approach that mixes Kraut and Prog. The new album “Heretic Tongues” was released on May 20, 2022 and contains 7 medium to long duration tracks that continue the musical discourse undertaken by the band in previous works. The opening track “Kill The King” begins with granite guitar riffs intertwining with the flute and a solid and powerful rhythm session. The vocal, the band’s trademark, is always warm and expressive, a real added value for the sound. The track is enriched with tempo changes, and energetic and engaging instrumental parts with a valuable use of the flute and a winning blend of retro sounds and personal traits. The subsequent “Don’t Break The Oath” also proposed as a single in presentation of the disc, is characterized by a pressing rhythm and valuable guitar works. The vocal alternates always very dynamic female solo parts and engaging choral refrains, while the tempo changes enrich the sound. In the central part the band offers an instrumental section with deep and bearing bass lines, modulations with effects on the guitar, and then returns to the central theme. With the return of the cantato and between valuable guitar duets the piece closes. “Fette Deutsche” mixes Heavy Prog and Psych traits with German singing and massive guitar riffs that intertwine with the flute, giving life to this pleasant marriage between the two genres. The vocal as always is very intense and adds quality to the piece, energetic and pulled from start to finish with a good instrumental section in the central part. With the return of the vocal and the riding riffs, the track moves towards the ending. Another single released prior to the album “Far And Beyond” is a 6-minute long track that begins with deep bass lines and synth melodies. The vocal is warm and expressive and the track develops with a hypnotic bassline and an energetic and engaging rhythmic session that is enriched with tempo changes. Here, too, riding passages and musical openings alternate that combine the retro features and the personal style of the band in a winning blend. In the central part, instrumental passages and very intense and refined vocal parts alternate, enhancing the individual technique of the band’s artists. Evolving the central theme with elaborate passages and tempo changes, the second part develops between vocal and instrumental parts, guiding us to the end of this excellent piece. “Far And Beyond (Until We Meet Again)” features an intro that moves slowly to increase in intensity as the song flows. The rhythm session is solid with driving bass lines, while the sonic ensemble combines late 70s overtones with the band’s personal touch. A track that shows another facet of the band’s sound, engaging and with positive melodies, makes you want to move and dance. Sung again in German “Zwischen Liebe und Zorn” returns to the sounds of the band more Psych / Prog with an aggressive vocal and fine guitar and flute intertwining. The tempo changes and accelerations evolve the track, which in the central part offers an intense solo duet of guitar and flute. Another refined passage with a 70s imprint, well composed and executed. The album closes with the longest track “Physical Boundaries” which exceeds 12 minutes in duration. After an intro with atmospheric sounds, the rhythmic session enters and a mix of guitars and flute on hypnotic and leading bass lines. In this first part the band showcases the more Progressive side of the sound, enhanced by the long instrumental textures. The vocal enters, as in the previous songs, very warm and expressive, while the sound develops with tempo changes and refined passages that increase in intensity. With continuous tempo changes and a refined instrumental section, the central part develops with very engaging sounds. Continuing to evolve the piece, in the second part softer parts alternate with others more energetic and Heavy, with valuable instrumental textures and sung parts that alternate. A band that confirms the good heard in the previous albums, offering a listening with retro sounds re-proposed in a modern chive and with personal traits. The female voice and the flute are a trademark of the band, which offers solid and elaborate rhythm sessions and massive guitars and very intense instrumental sections. A listening recommended for lovers of Psych / Prog sounds, in my opinion one of the best plays of the genre in recent years, a real masterpiece.
Tracklist
01. Kill The King (04:59)
02. Don’t Break The Oath (05:10)
03. Fette Deutsche (03:56)
04. Far And Beyond (06:20)
05. Far And Beyond (Until We Meet Again) (04:19)
06. Zwischen Liebe und Zorn (04:37)
07. Physical Boundaries (12:35)
Lineup
Francis Tobolsky / Vocals, Flute, Guitar, Theremin, Sitar, Synths, Percussion
Tim George / Guitars, Keys
Patrik Dröge / Bass
Philip Knöfel / Drums, Percussion
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