Description
It is hard to know how many times the mythology and mystery of Goatrsquos backstory can be written about, but new release lsquoMedicinersquo does away with any need to dwell on the past, returning with a more introspective, slightly mellower psychfolk sound that remains recognisably them.There is a consistently restrained, warm feel across the whole work, and the band suggest that the overall theme of the album is about ldquothe impermanence of life in different ways sickness, relationships, love, death and how our time is finiterdquo.At times the albumrsquos sound has nods to classic Swedish 70s psychprogfolk acts such as Arbete amp Fritid, Charlie amp Esdor and Traumld, Graumls amp Stenar. lsquoVaknarsquo takes on this influence, progressing across nearly six minutes of swaying, warping guitar solos, without ever breaking out into chaos.The lsquoMedicinersquo of the title may refer to a number of salves, or the value of relationships and love ldquoFor our families, friends, society, this could be done through the use of psychedelics, through meditation, through learning from other people, staying curious and never settling for a lsquosolidrsquo identityrdquo.Flute is foregrounded throughout, threading across several tracks from the opener lsquoImpermanence And Deathrsquo. It duets elegantly with keening synth lines through the beautiful lsquoYoursquoll Be Alrightrsquo, and leads the melody of the closing track lsquoTripping In The Graveyardrsquo. lsquoTSODrsquo, with its backdrop of sitar and acoustic guitar, has an indelible vocal melody that could be a lost George Harrison recording.The title of the full album version of first single, lsquoI Became The Unemployment Officersquo, comes from an expression for someone taking advantage of you. The joyous, echoladen groove of penultimate track lsquoJoin The Resistancersquo bursts into life and continues to build to a moment of release with a huge Sabbathesque riff.Whatever your dosage, and regardless of your remedy, it is now time to take your medicine.