This 13th LP in two decades by the Austin, Texas rock band fronted by James Petralli has a particularly mischievous experimentalism, spreading styles far beyond breathlessly paced prog rock, with wrily humorous, surreal, personal and passionate numbers across heavy funk, dub, soul, psyche, country, dirty blues and more, joined by host of outstanding extra musicians. Beginning with a deadpan grandiose announcement “On the 13th day, God created White Denim,” (13th August is also Petralli’s birthday) opener God Created (Lock and Key) bangs and crashes into a strikingly Beefheart/Sun Ra/Zappa-esque, surreal, stop-start swinging stomp (“I take out my tumors and put thе lumps in your tea / You're sucking like a mosquito and I was born rеady to bleed”). Next, Chew Nails is another belter, hitting a catchy, country, psychedelic groove with elements of pedal steel, and touches of flute. It’s an album full of dynamic mixtures and surprises, from the 70s light funk and soul of Only A Fool with noodly keyboards, the beautiful shuffling rhythm and soulful melody of Time Time (joined by Dawes’ siblings Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith), the agile rhythms of Keep Calling Me (Baby), the gentle dub of Earth To, or the funky burbles of That’s Rap (with Jessie Payo) channelling soulful and chatty elements of Isley Brothers and Bobby Caldwell as well warble of intertwining guitars at the end. Hired Hand #2 meanwhile is a catchy country hoedown stomp ending in donkey hee-haws. Ruby is another highlight - a catchy country rock classic. Petralli’s musical loves and influences are richly texured throughout – from Scritti Politti to The Gap Band, Terry Reid to King Tubby, Caetano Veloso to John Cale, Stevie Wonder to ‘80s-era Steve Winwood. White Denim has seen several members come and go, but this one feels like a celebration of current and past, including Michael Hunter (keyboards) Matt Young (drums and percussion) alongside original drummer Josh Block, Owen Pallet (strings), Jesse Chandler (clarinet, sax, flute), Kosta Galanoupolis (bass), not to mention also fellow band founder and original, bassist Steve Terebecki. This fluid group steered by Petralli together summons wonderful and eccentric celebration of musicianship, ending with the drily humorous Driving Trucks, which refers to the job Petralli did before being in the band, and, not discounting the idea of eventually having to return to it, enjoying the joke of the classic truckers song, yet also as a tribute to his wife and family for putting up with all the stresses of running a band: “Oh, I'm doomed to repeat this / Until I'm dumb and depleted / Oh, I hope that I'm still needed / Whenever I turn this rig around.” A richly entertaining, creative, dynamic release - and while not the most coherent, genre-wise, still one of their very best. Out on Bella Union.
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