White Manna – ‘S/T’ album review: resurgence of psychedelia
They say that music comes around in cycles. One genre I’m not sure many would have predicted to come back around, though, is psychedelia. However, despite the fact that the world we live in is vastly different to that of the 1960s, the genre is enjoying a resurgence thanks to acts like White Manna.
The latest band adding their name to an ever-increasing list of current psychedelia acts is White Manna, who hail from California. If you’re after another Toy/Temples/Tame Impala, you’re not going to find that in White Manna. They lack the pop sensibility that many of their counterparts possess. However, this isn’t in any way a criticism. You see, Tame Impala et al. are all classed under the ‘psychedelia’ genre purely because it’s an easy comparison to make, but it’s also a lazy one. White Manna possesses a much more genuine, heavy psych sound. The fact that their new S/T EP starts with a 7-minute opus entitled ‘Acid Head’ tells you everything.
Don’t be scared off by that, though. That makes it sound like a difficult listen, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. ‘Acid Head’ is the perfect start to the EP; it sums up the band perfectly. It’s got that total garage/lo-fi vibe and is not too heavily produced. It’s got the token psyche sound, but what really sets it apart is the vocals which give the impression that the songs were based around the words, as opposed to the other way around.
The EP continues in the same manner with ‘Keep Your Lantern Burning’. The best thing about this band is that once they rope you in, they don’t let off. This is summed up best on the third song, ‘Mirror Sky’, the shortest song on the EP, clocking in at a meagre 5 minutes 20. This track is clearly the highlight, with apocalyptic lyrics echoing over the top of guitar segments Jimi Hendrix would be proud of.
Just as you think you can read White Manna like a book, they proceed to kick off the following song, ‘Don’t Gun Us Down’, with a chilled sax affair reverbing over the top of what sounds like 100mph wind. A few minutes in, they’re back to the White Manna we have become familiar with, albeit a laid-back hazy carnation.
The EP ends with ‘Sweet Jesus’, which gives us more of the same without being predictable or boring. It is the straightest up ‘rock’ song on the EP, bringing to mind early BRMC. Meaning that despite clocking in at 9 minutes, this piece is one of the more accessible.
To say the band are still in their early days, they possess a certain something that sets them apart from the bands they are no doubt going to get lumped in with. If they can impress this month with a debut EP, it makes you wonder what they’ve got up their sleeve for the full length. One thing’s for sure; it’s going to be a thrilling listen.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out New Music Newsletter
All the latest New Music from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.