★★★★☆
Over their past few albums, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard have established a subtle release pattern.
A full-band effort like 2013’s Float Along – Fill Your Lungs would be punctuated soon after by something like Oddments, recorded in smaller groups, the whole band hardly ever in a room together. By the time Oddments was out, another full-band album like I’m In Your Mind Fuzz was already taking shape.
Paper Mâché Dream Balloon breaks the pattern. It’s the second consecutive release to not feature King Gizz in full kraut mode. To record a whole batch of songs with nothing but acoustic instruments is a deviation, not simply because they’re all acoustic, but because previously it was not uncommon to hear a wide range of recording fidelity across a single LP from this band. This is King Gizz’s most consistent release to date, yet still features impressively varied songwriting styles. Songs like ‘Dirt’ and ‘Most Of What I Like’ boast less conventional, angular pop progressions. ‘Time = Fate’ is sung by Cook Craig, a plodding but upbeat reflection on past and future.
But it works because it’s all fed through a consistent acoustic filter with lush flute and percussion arrangements. They didn’t want a concept album this time, but perhaps they got one.
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard’sPaper Mâché Dream Balloonis out now on Flightless/Remote Control.
