Album
Type:
Album
Date
Released:
17th
March 2015
Label:
Self
Released
Live
Juju: Wo Fat at Freak Valley – Track Listing
1.The
Black Code (live)
2.Read
the Omens (live)
3.Bayou
Juju (live)
4.Enter
the Riffian (live)
5.Sleep
of the Black Lotus (live)
6.Dark
Snow (bonus live studio jam)
Bio
You can wade through
as many press quotes about “Texas-sized” as you want or see how
many top-whatever lists Wo Fat have made since the Dallas trio got
started in 2003, but none of that is going to be the same as staring
down their swampadelic fuzz groove for yourself. If you want to know
the monster, shake its hand.
In 2014, Wo Fat will
release The Conjuring, their fifth full-length and second through
Small Stone. Like their last two, 2012’s The Black Code and 2011’s
Noche del Chupacabra, it’s a heavy-riff/heavy-jam blast of a time –
the kind of record that turns the vaguely interested into converts
and that makes the corners on squares look even sharper.
Guitarist/vocalist Kent Stump, bassist Tim Wilson and drummer/backing
vocalist Michael Walter are jazz-combo tight and their roll is easy
and natural, like you remember Fu Manchu being, but bigger-sounding
and in the case of The Conjuriing, darker as well.
There’s been a
creature lurking in the woods since Wo Fat’s 2006 debut, The
Gathering Dark – their second album, 2009’s Psychedelonaut,
pulled back on the threat some to lighten the mood – but whether
it’s the motor-driven rush of “Read the Omens” or the
you’re-already-lost-in-it riff-exploration of 17-minute closer
“Dreamwalker,” The Conjuring is indeed a backwoods ritual.
Bluesmen have sold their souls for less.
Veterans of
Roadburn, Desertfest and a prime slot at Freak Valley 2014, and
self-sufficient with Stump handling the recording at his own Crystal
Clear Sound in Dallas, Wo Fat push their jams farther than they’ve
ever gone before on these five tracks. Topped off with a mastering
job from Nolan Brett at Stump’s studio and an otherworldly cover
courtesy of Alexander Von Wieding, the beast that Wo Fat’s tectonic
riffage calls to earth has never seemed more real or more alive than
it does on The Conjuring.
Members
Kent Stump - Vocals,
Guitar
Tim Wilson - Bass
Michael Walter -
Bateria Mastodontica
Review:
Does
this band really need an introduction? I hope not as Wo Fat are
currently one of the finest bands in the Stoner Metal world currently
today. The band has been going for 10 years and has released 5
critically acclaimed albums. Wo Fat have a fearsome live reputation
that has seen these guys labelled as a must-see act. This
hard-rocking Psychedelic Stoner Metal power-trio never seems to be
out of the game long enough to impress people with their music. And
today is no exception as Wo Fat are about to release their incredible
new Live album – Live JuJu: Wo Fat Live at Freak Valley.
The
album was recorded during their Freak Valley Festival Appearance back
in June 2014 when Wo Fat were on their second European Tour
called The Texas Takeover Tour with their good friends –
Mothership. I was lucky enough to catch this tour when they made a
one stop visit to London Underworld in May 2014. Now, Wo Fat have
decided to release a live album showing what went down at Freak
Valley and the results are now here for everyone to witness.
So
are you ready to join Kent, Michael and Tim performing to an excited
crowd. The album opens with a German voice announcing Wo Fat to the
stage and they open with a real classic – The Black Code – from
their 2012 landmark album. The album sounds great right from the
start as Wo Fat slowly start playing those familiar magical
psychedelic riffs or swampedelic riffs as the band call their music.
Kent’s vocals take a few moments to become focused after a low-key
start but from then on in its all systems go. If you’re a long time
Wo Fat fan you’re going to be rocking out like there’s no
tomorrow as Wo Fat are on fire through out.
Second
Track – Read The Omens – is from their 2014 album – The
Conjuring – and it sounds heavier when played live. The album makes
you feel you were at the festival yourself seeing Wo Fat perform
live. It’s another heavy thunderous offering that only Wo Fat can
deliver. There doesn’t seem to be much audience interference when
Wo Fat play between songs as it’s fairly quiet from them. Then
again, Wo Fat doesn’t give the audience the chance to catch their
breath especially when moving onto the third song from the set –
Bayou Juju. Another Wo-Fat hard rocking number that will have
old-school fans foaming at the mouth. Kent’s vocals are slightly
lost amongst the high amounts of FUZZ but not for long as Wo Fat are
once again in confident mood showing the world why the band are
highly thought of.
The
other two live tracks – Enter The Riffian and Sleep Of The Black
Lotus – bring more Swampedelic magic to fully experience as Wo Fat
are just having way too much fun playing extended jams and riffs for
you to experience. Now we finally start to hear the audience finally
enjoying Wo Fat’s performance. I always think the magic of a live
album is hearing the audience’s reaction. It makes for a better
experience. By the end of the live performance, Wo Fat has played
their hearts out to a truly appreciative audience as they leave to a
rapturous reception.
Now
it’s time for the bonus track – Dark Snow (Bonus Live Studio Jam”
– A 14 minute plus unreleased track opens up with a hazy
psychedelic riff with hints of loud reverberation and fuzz to awaken
your senses to. When the guitars finally come into action there’s a
nice sideline of Jimi Hendrix style psychedelic rock. It’s a purely
instrumental affair that’s being released as a digital download
only. Sorry to disappoint all you Vinyl fans. It sounds like this
song is from The Black Code or The Conjuring sessions as it has that
familiar vibe from those two classic albums.
If
you’re already a fan of Wo Fat then Live JuJu: Wo Fat Live at Freak
Valley is a must have album to add to your Wo Fat collection. If
you’re a first time visitor to the world of Wo Fat then this is the
best place to start. The album sounds incredible from start to
finish, it really does. Did we expect anything less? We all know how
great Wo Fat records sound. Well this is no different. This is a must
have live album.
Thanks
to Wo Fat for the promo. Live JuJu: Wo Fat Live at Freak Valley will
be available to buy from March 17th 2015 on DD/Vinyl.
Words
by Steve Howe
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