The unpredictable, ‘anything goes’ world of psychedelic rock has accommodated John Dwyer far more enduringly than any other fascination of his. I supposed I never would’ve anticipated he make Coachwhips’ style of extra-minimalist garage punk his entire career, but regardless, with Osees – in any of its monikers – he has listeners awaiting his next step for around two decades.
No matter if he wants to add a synth punk or freak folk or krautrock element to his work, he prepares something that feels special, and impressively so once you consider how he seldom misses a year to release an album. He honours the diversity of his freaky psychedelia on Off Course – his millionth fucking album – by simply having fun with the genre; jamming, freaking out, layering.
The Trick is all about having fun, embodying the ethos of Off Course as Dwyer plays a game of Simon on his organ amid a freaky instrumental rapid with texture. Bustling hand drums seem to hide away and steal focus.
The title track reads like a love letter to psychedelia’s garage-y beginnings. It opens the album like Astronomy Domine opens Piper at the Gates of Dawn, with guitars that build up, swing, glitch a little, and attempt to communicate with aliens. Plus, when the guitars open up into chords, they do sound a lot like Astronomy Domine.
And while Dwyer is such a friend to the experimental / avant-garde that he seems happy to bellow out whatever bizarre nonsense he sees fit, his bizarre tendencies all have their place on Off Course, even the possessed backing voice that appears throughout Syringe.
A stern, commanding, but expectedly goofed-up vocal delivery grooves with his most magnificent synthesiser arpeggios on The Brute on His Knees. Animatedly, he displays impressive vocal range on Hecate’s Reflection Is a Trick, which soon descends into a deep goblin voice – “with a bloody spear”. Sounds damn good against those syncopated drumbeats and keyboard fanfare.
I’m not sure if I have a favourite John Dwyer (or favourite Osees / OCS / Ohsees / Thee Oh Sees), but the spontaneous yet smartly-assembled psychedelia Off Course is an obvious strength. This is, as good as, the perfect example of the kind of music that has served him well over his long career.
Best tracks – Off Course – The Brute on His Knees.
Rating – 7 out of 10
