sat 07/12/2024

CD: Brian Jonestown Massacre – Don’t Get Lost | reviews, news & interviews

CD: Brian Jonestown Massacre – Don’t Get Lost

CD: Brian Jonestown Massacre – Don’t Get Lost

Anton Newcombe’s psychedelic rockers try a range of flavours and come up trumps

'Don't Get Lost': strange but accessible

Any listeners who may have been concerned that Anton Newcombe’s last few years of sobriety might result in him turning down the psychedelia and tip-toeing towards the mainstream can breathe a sigh of relief. Don’t Get Lost is yet another cracking psychedelic head-spin with plenty of good grooves.

In fact, the Brian Jonestown Massacre have created a double album here without a single duff track a mere four months after the release of their last set.

As with many double albums, there is plenty of experimentation here, and in due course it may come to be viewed as the Brian Jonestown Massacre’s own Sandinista! Nevertheless, despite dipping into genres as disparate as wigged-out motorik grooves, baggy beats, trancey electronic dance music and even laid-back jazz, it’s an album without any of the quality control issues of the Clash’s famously sprawling opus. In fact, instead of coming over as disjointed and clunky, Don’t Get Lost has more of the atmosphere of a Jackson Pollock painting with bright splashes of sonic colour that add up to a seriously groovy album.

As well his present gang of sonic adventurers, Newcombe has recruited quite a crew of fellow confederates for Don’t Get Lost, from the Charlatans’ Tim Burgess to Pogues saxophonist Pete Fraser, who all fit well with the flow. However, it's the sultry vocals of Tess Parks that really stand out among the guests, and on the Velvet Underground-flavoured “Throbbing Gristle” and more summery “Dropping Bombs on the Sun”, she croons a seriously sassy and seductive tune.

Don’t Get Lost is sprawling but engaging; strange but accessible. It may not be packed with stand-out hit singles but it's a very special trip with some real depth.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre have created a double album without a single duff track a mere four months after the release of their last set

rating

Editor Rating: 
4
Average: 4 (1 vote)

Explore topics

Share this article

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters