King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - Ice Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava
KGLW
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, the ever-busy ozzy outfit, have had the music game in a chokehold for up to a decade at this stage, and their grip is only tightening on the whole thing. Just when you think they were slacking off with only two releases within a calendar year, they announce three albums set to release over a three week period. 'Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava' being the first of the said three-streak. The bands 21st album - you read that right - is a jam-packed and jam-filled flex of extended material sitting at 7 songs and 63 minutes in length. Buckle up, sit back, and soak up the jazz-y vibes that King Gizzard offer on their latest project.
Is there a band that have put out as many albums within a short window of time while also maintaining some sort of respectable quality throughout? - maybe even more than respectable, honourable. Its an undertaking that King Gizzard have placed under their wing with the intent of keeping up appearances, and artistic merit. It's fairly easy to keep up appearances if the act of 'showing up' is the standard by which it is set, but to bring the heat with it is a path less paved. King Gizzard must have deep insights on the dynamics of motivation and deeply understand that motivation itself follows action and not the other way round.
Some acts struggle to tap into the creative space that gives them the flow of divine being. King Gizzard seem to have the process of getting out of their own way down to a tee. Move to the side a little and let the inspiration take center stage - channel the universe and what comes through is usually of a pure nature. The soulful side of fun exudes a happy-go-lucky mindset - nonchalant, but more on the side of untouchable in the minds eye. My opinion is irrelevant, let me enjoy the day for what it is, all we have. That swing in your step finds an ever-soothing sweet spot, brisk as a breeze. Walking on a rhythmic ride one step at a time. Face to the firmament, your lungs fill that much easier. Fresh air, fresh thoughts, fresh feelings. A tangible tango of new experiences can be felt through King Gizzard's material. An expanse on the unfamiliar. They're not entirely blind, but the outcome is somewhat convoluted - shy of 20/20 sight. Risks must be taken to fully grip the groove - a sacrifice of what is for what could be.
A shining light on the contemporary scene, King Gizzard lead the way with yet another well-performed and well-worked piece of sustained quality.
