Artist: Psycho-Path
Label: Moonlee Records
Release: 2008
Rating: 4/5
Ever since their beginnings in 1993, Psycho-path have been considered one of the most unique bands in Slovenia. They have their own take on alternative rock, where the mighty guitar riffs, the incredibly powerful female vocals and the rock-solid rhythm section really stand out. You could call them a true (but far from typical) representative of alternative rock, because on their albums and at their live shows they always pull a surprise or two. Their huge following has finally got what it was waiting for: a new album (their fifth in a row), out this March on Moonlee (or is it lemon?).
Before I dig into the details of “The Ass-soul of Psycho-path,” I have to admit I’m not exactly a great connoisseur of the band or the alternative rock scene, but I hope I’m open-minded enough about music of all stripes to appreciate everything that’s good. Even though this kind of music isn’t my home turf, right from the start of the album I noticed similarities to Sonic Youth, especially in the detuned guitar sound. Thurston Moore and his Sonics were way more experimental and often went overboard with their explorations of what a guitar can do sonically. Psycho-path don’t overdo it. They’re experimental just enough, without compromising pure melody and flow. Everything just glides along smooth as butter. The music is surprisingly gentle on the ears, even though it’s heavy. A real balm. The similarity to Sonic Youth also shows in the sexy, seductive female vocals. Just like Kim Gordon with the Youth, Melee sings with remarkable sensuality, power and aggression, yet still very femininely.
The songs on the album are incredibly diverse, each one something quite special. For the most part we’re talking alternative hard rock tunes. Then there’s War, whose almost metal riffs bring to mind even Black Sabbath. There are also a few slower tracks, like Lobo, You Are Crazy or Goddamn Cocksucker, which for me personally has the most beautiful melody on the album in the chorus (and the contrast between the vulgar title and the gorgeous vocals is of course fascinating).
One of the Prekmurje crew’s big trump cards is definitely the variety they bring to their music. They know how to combine hard, almost metal moments with tender passages beautifully. There’s plenty of Sonic Youth-style experimentation, especially in the guitar sound and the unconventional melodies, both instrumental and vocal. Just when you think you’ve figured Psycho-path out, they surprise you again, like with Cookie Jar, which features only the singer with her distinctive voice and a piano with its crazy melody, perfect for some saloon in the Wild West of the nineteenth century. They surprise just as much with Bekkognition, where they show they can handle songs with more complex structures too.
There’s nothing conventional about Psycho-path. They’re masters of the unusual, and their music is very hard to pin down to a single specific genre. They’ve already proven themselves with excellent releases in the past, yet it seems like they’re still getting better. They’ve been on the scene for almost fifteen years now, but they don’t seem to be short on drive or ideas. On this fifth album they sound just as fresh and original as they did at the start of their career. They sound different than before, but you still know it’s Psycho-path. They’re different, yet the sound is unmistakable, the kind only Psycho-path can pull off. Their stature is recognized abroad too. The album The Ass-soul of Psycho-path was produced by renowned American producer Bobby MacIntyre, and Scott Bennett (Brian Wilson’s band, he’s also worked with Flaming Lips, The Smashing Pumpkins, Filter,…) also leaves his mark on the album, singing backing vocals and playing a guitar solo on Bekkognition.
I don’t think Slovenia even fully realizes what a gem it has in Psycho-path. A lineup that has been storming across the scene for fifteen years, putting out albums and playing live non-stop. They’ve played tiny smoky clubs and in front of crowds of thousands. Nothing is foreign to them. And you can tell they’ve seen it all. They believe in their music, and that confidence is plain to see and hugely important for a band that always wants to stay fresh and inspire listeners with new ideas. We can only hope Psycho-path will always hold on to this musical vision and keep serving us such innovative music, which, especially now, in the world of instant music, matters more than ever.
Lineup
Melee – vocals
Jernej Šavel – guitars
Sašo Benko – guitars
Janez Žlebič – bass
Dominik Bagola – drums, piano (Cookie Jar)
guests:
Scott Bennett – guitar, backing vocals (Bekkognition)
Bobby MacIntyre – vocals, percussion
Production
Bobby MacIntyre
Tracklist
1. Yukio Mishima Is Real! (5:25)
2. Musical Moment (3:56)
3. Incommunicado (5:51)
4. Goddamn Cocksucker (7:49)
5. Clean Slate (4:50)
6. Lobo, You Are Crazy (4:16)
7. War (4:15)
8. Bekkognition (10:45)
9. Cookie Jar (2:56)
10. New Blood (4:57)
11. Battle Royal (7:16)
