By: Victor Van Ommen
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 25/03/2016
Label: Small Stone Recordings
The slowness
of “All That You Say I Am” or the moment in “All For Nothing” that the bass
loses its raunchiness and transforms into a lush swelling of lower tones,
define this record. The mood is laid back, the pretense is absent, and the
vocals that drift by like a breeze on a cold night add up to something special. “Burial Sunrise” is a record that is
musically spot on as well as one that encapsulates the spirit and soul of
Desert rock.
“Burial Sunrise”
CD//DD//LP track listing:
1). Nothing Farther
2). Into the Wasteland
3). All For Nothing
4). Come Through the Water
5). All That You Say I Am
6). Solar Incantation
The Review:
Zun’s “Burial
Sunrise” is pushed by serene melodies that reflect the peacefulness of a
clear and vast night sky. Helmed by none other than Gary Arce (Yawning Man) and fronted by two of the most recognizable
voices in the desert - John Garcia (that guy from Kyuss)
and Sera Timms (Ides of Gemini) – Zun’s
debut has been regarded as one of the most anticipated albums of the year. To
further support this claim, there’s Mario Lalli (Fatso Jetson)
on bass, Robby Krieger (The Doors) on electric
sitar, Bill Stinson (Ten East) on drums, and
Harper Hug (Brant Bjork) playing the role of producer as
well as contributing some drum tracks and synths.
Despite the
cast of musicians, I’d hesitate to call Zun a supergroup.
There’s a unified vision on “Burial
Sunrise,” and a unified vision is not something that is inherent in the
concept of a supergroup. This makes for a sense of togetherness and in doing so
avoids the potential pitfall of each contributing musician fighting for the
limelight. Sure, Zun might have been put together by
Arce, but there´s no sense that this is his band or that he is
the boss. The sounds and grooves contributed to “Burial Sunrise” by this family of musicians therefore sound free,
like everyone involved had the greater good of the record as their goal. This
chemistry has resulted in an arresting mix of spacious melodies, malleable
grooves, and a laid back atmosphere.
This being a
collective effort is the through-line of the six songs that make up “Burial Sunrise.” Arce’s guitar is
instantly recognizable in that he writes sounds, not riffs. Arce uses Zun to continue his quest in experimenting with effects,
driving the mood of the record by way of hypnotic passages. His playing is
underscored by a rolling rhythm section which keeps a steady push to the
meandering songs, upon which Garcia and Timms are able to build. Be it the
march of “Into the Wasteland” or the
to and fro of “Come Through the Water,”
the bass and drums are kept in the center of the mix, having the other
instruments rotate around them like planets rotating around the sun. Both
rhythmic and free, Zun has succeeded in
capturing the psychedelic sound of the low desert.
This
relaxing vibe resonates through these songs. The slowness of “All That You Say I Am” or the moment in
“All For Nothing” that the bass
loses its raunchiness and transforms into a lush swelling of lower tones,
define this record. The mood is laid back, the pretense is absent, and the
vocals that drift by like a breeze on a cold night add up to something special.
Neither Garcia nor Timms have been hired to help sell this record, they are
just straight up a perfect fit for these songs. Garcia’s quiet croon in album
opener “Nothing Farther” is
unintelligible but no less a key ingredient in the overwhelming vibe of the
track. Timms adds to this with her melancholic delivery, allowing her voice to
seep through all of the empty spaces in the mix, pushing the music far apart
which in turn adds to the spaciousness of the album.
“Burial Sunrise” is a record that is
musically spot on as well as one that encapsulates the spirit and soul of
Desert rock. Zun will probably never tour and might not
even make another album, but “Burial
Sunrise” makes for a worthy stopgap for each one of these artists involved.
It’s nice to hear something as fresh as Zun while waiting for
that new Yawning Man album to make the scene.
“Burial Sunrise” is available here
Band info: facebook
