The King is dead. Long live The King. The KG OG – Julian Wa – is back and he’s got a brand new bag. As musical reinventions go, this one is going to knock you for six. Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce you to Far Out. It’s been 3 years since the release of Wa’s wonderful, genre-defining lo-fi bedroom indie/folk/pop EP Low Wave, but in all honesty, it feels like forever.
Starting with an urgency bordering on ferocity that we would never have previously associated with the Queensland-based troubadour, the title track is disarmingly forward-facing from the first second. Previously one to whisper from the shadows in the corner, this stylistic departure is a welcome change and a beautiful added wrinkle to Julian Wa’s already formidable repertoire. A wallflower no more, the new EP sets out its stall from the get-go as a confident and considered celebration of creativity, with Wa’s usual songwriting prowess on full display but now bolstered by an exquisite band. Taking cues from the sound of modern acts like Tokyo Police Club, Sulka, Fionn Regan, and The Dears, but also with a keen backwards glance at legacy acts like Teenage Fanclub, MC5, and The Smiths, it seems like a tribute to tradition, but also a loving, longing look at what potential wonders might lie ahead.
People is positively punky in its execution. The music is full of garage fuzz – all unbridled energy and frenetic percussion -, but the vocal is still typical Wa – lethargic and ephemeral – there’s almost a touch of Peter Doherty about the whimsical, idiosyncratic, atypical delivery. The second half of the song, in particular, is stratospheric in its psychedelic rock scope. There’s some immensely satisfying guitar work here from Lloyd Hancock (particularly in the second half of the song), covering a variety of tones and textures – soaring effects-laden U2-esque scribbles, some subtle, almost-Stonesy slide parts, some guttural bassier tones and much more besides those. Like Heatmiser meets The Brian Jonestown Massacre – or like a sheep in wolves’ clothing – it’s perfectly crafted pop filtered through a filthy psychedelic rock n roll lens.
Part Tame Impala, part Pink Floyd, Whatever You Want feels like an instant classic. Tried and tested songwriting structures à la Neil Young or The Beatles during their most adventurous phase (that prominent, unshackled bass guitar feels very McCartney – big up Vincent Nydam) – maybe even touching on late-Oasis. There’s an assuredness in Wa’s vocals that we haven’t encountered before. He almost comes across a bit like some kind of cross between Syd Barrett, Baxter Dury and Alex Turner at his most refined and measured – but not quite. This is a sound all his own – the backing vocals are particularly wonderful and add a beautiful additional dimension to the track. They eventually fall away and hand over the spotlight to the lead guitar, and it’s, again, especially beguiling here.
It’s Over starts off feeling like an alt-folk/country tune, but eventually it evolves into something much more. Poppy, but at the same time sprawlingly experimental and adventurous. The shimmering wash of sound in the background gives the whole thing an almost dreamlike quality, and the buzzsaw guitars tear through it with distinct style and panache. Special mention must be made to the bass guitar again on this track – it feels much like the co-star. The slide guitar that comes in in the final third is also a standout contribution. Alistair Rathbone serves the song perfectly behind the kit, never overplaying and holding the whole thing together with just the right amount of juice.
There are distinct On The Beach vibes on the last track I Don’t Mind (perhaps Revolution Blues specifically? Or maybe the title track?), and the hazy spirit of Pink Floyd reoccurs too. The underlying feel of the song is a woozy wonder – as it slinks and sways, it feels swampy and soothing. Dan Auberach would be proud of the guitar work towards the end of the track during the instrumental outro.
In conclusion, Far Out is an unmitigated success. It gimmers and gleams, but also is not afraid to get down and dirty. Do yourself a favour and get on it ASAP.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
