Here Lies Man is capping off 2017 with a new EP, Animal Noises. The Los Angeles outfit’s self-titled debut was named one of Rough Trade’s Top 10 Albums of 2017 and the new 12″ further demonstrates the group’s ability to create psychedelic sounds that sound remarkably new.
“Sorrow, Blood and Tears” fuses world music sounds with down and gritty stoner-centered sounds while the titular cut weighs proves that heavy can still groove. (Imagine a Colossal Head-era Los Lobos digging hard into the Black Sabbath oeuvre.) Rounded out by Chico Mann remix of the funky, chill “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” and an instrumental rendition of “Animal Noises”, the EP as powerful as its full-length counterpart.
The group was founded by Marcos Garcia of Antibalas, whose appreciation of rock’s weightier side as well as Afrobeat account for Here Lies Man’s infectious sound.
“These repetitive guitar figures that happen in Afrobeat music are pretty close to heavy rock guitar riffs”, Garcia explains. “It’s based on the clave. It’s the musical algorithm that the rhythms revolve around. That’s what gives it integrity and is part of this musical conversation going on. I knew I wanted it to be psychedelic and heavy, and I wanted to be expanding on a musical tradition than pretending to be creating something new.”
Joining Garcia is drummer Geoff Mann (son of jazz great Herbie Mann, ex-Antiblas).
Animal Noises is out November 24 via Riding Easy Records and may be ordered here.
TOUR DATES
11/19/17 Long Beach, CA @ Alex’s Bar – All Good Things Fest
02/22/18 Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
02/23/18 Berlin, DE @ Musik und Frieden
02/24/18 Copenhagen, DK @ Vinterjazz Festival
02/25/18 Hamburg, DE @ Knust
02/27/18 Brussels, BE @ Ancienne Belgique
02/28/18 Paris, FR @ L’Olympic Cafe
03/02/18 Bristol, UK @ The Exchange
03/03/18 Brighton, UK @ West Hill Hall
03/05/18 Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
03/06/18 Manchester, UK @ Soup Kitchen
03/07/18 London, UK @ Moth Club