Illinois Entertainer September 2024 | Page 23

instrumental instincts .
Gerber convinced Wexler and the band to take the 12 best songs and make one really good album rather than put all the songs out at once . “ For better or worse , everybody agreed ,” he said . “ I actually remixed three or four of them , and we sequenced them so that ��������������������������������������������� ��� ���� ��������� ���������� ����� ���� ���������� �����������������������������������������������gether to make , I think , a pretty cohesive 12- song record .”
Songs like Smith ’ s opener “ Burn Bright For Now ” blast the door open with a melodic Moog line , bashing beat and ear-snatching ���������������� ������� ������ ���� ������� ��������������������������������������������� ecstatic as it builds in intensity to another infectious chorus of chugging guitar layers and Ness ’ s razor-throated vocals . Next is Smith ’ s “ Science Goes Public ” ( for which the band is working on an AI-created video ), a blistering psychedelic guitar tour de force that will surely be a memorable moment for upcoming live shows .
�����������������������������������������oline Waits ,” which pulls the listener back ����������������������������������������������lated snapping guitar reminiscent of Scott Lu- ���������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������� admits emulating both .
������� ����� ������� ������ ���� ����sphere ” and “ Cellophane And Sulphur ,” are some of his very best post-Polygram work . ���� ������� ��� �� ��������������� ��������� ��mospheric trip , and the latter is a cheery , pop hook-heavy psychedelic romp . “ If we weren ’ t ��������������������������������������������� Lotion and a bunch of angular music that was complicated but pop-y ,” Smith recalled of the inspiration for the next track , “ Senior Circuit .”
“ When we were mastering the album and trying to get the timing right between songs , I think from ‘ Senior Circuit ’ into ‘ If Not Now When ’ we were trying to do the Journey ���������������������������������������������� Ness recalled .
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‘ Cellophane and Sulphur ,’” Gerber contin- ������������������������������������������ record when we were making that song , so it has some of those abrasive stop-start sounds . ����������������������������������������������ing , and it was time for a break at that point in the album . I thought Mike ’ s song ‘ AD + D ’ was ���������������������������������������������� record there .”
����������������������������������������- ������������������������������������������������ very talented and obviously went on to do ����� ����� ������ ���� ������ ���� �� ������ ����� ��serve a second listen . I think there are fans who liked them back then who would be in- ���������������������������������������������� there are people who haven ’ t heard them yet who would want to hear a good record . It ’ s been long enough now that nostalgia is set in , so people who are fans of that music back then are older now , and maybe their kids are grown , so they have time on their hands and can indulge their rock-and-roll interests a lit- ���������������������������������������������� Gman two nights , so I think that ’ s exciting . It shows that there ’ s interest .”
���������������������������������������� both vinyl and CD on September 6 .
And if the reunion wasn ’ t enough to celebrate , the news that original drummer Andy ��������������������������������������������vates the moment . Since there will probably be disappointed fans who couldn ’ t get tickets to either GMan show , be sure to follow Fig Dish , ������������������������������������������� for news about a Forge Again label showcase ��������������������������������������������� the deal goes through , Forge Again will re- �������������������������������������������� talked about doing new material ,” Wexler added . “ Blake says for years he ’ s wanted to do a new Fig Dish record , so I ’ m hoping that happens . I would one hundred percent love to do that with them . So we ’ ll see what happens next year .”
Appearing 9 / 5 and 9 / 6 at Gman Tavern , Chicago .
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