Jamming Joyful Robots? King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard "The Silver Cord" Review

[@danieliroh]

I seldom leave comments on KZbin videos, but this one prompted me to for a number of reasons. I first discovered you from your review of lil yatchy's let start here which was an album that completely left me scratching my head in a good way and I really resonated with everything you said in that video. I stuck around to watch a few other albums you've reviewed and this is where I say AAVA. I'd like to mention that initially when the 3 teaser tracks came out, the only song that sounded promising to me was Set and I had completely written the other two off. And boy was I wrong! turns out the extended mix was what I had been waiting for. Like you, I have no plans to revisit the shorter version of the album because the extended mix is where these songs truly shine. I should mention that as a black guy who grew in Western Africa, on the surface it would seem like I am not their target audience. And yet, I'd even go as far as calling myself a superfan. The reason why I love this band and their insane catalog is because it's the perfect microcosm of my music tastes. I grew up with a dad who loved listening to Celine Dion as much as he loved listening to Peter Tosh. In other words, his music palate was wide ranging and open to new experiences. That influence early on meant that for me, listening to music essentially served as my first passport. And no other band has quite captured that feeling in their catalog as well as King Gizzard. The fact that their foray into new sounds and genres actually sound above average and sometimes venture into great territory is only cherry on top. And if somehow you aren't aware of this yet, every band member has a side project except for Stu who's sole focus is King Gizzard. The side project that this current album mostly dovetails nicely into is Bullant. You should definitely also check out The Murlocs, Pipe-Eye and CAVS(only one record out and it's just drums).

[@professorskye]

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[@iliasmastoris529]

I grew up in a household where my parents listened to Greek music (mostly rembetika and folk styles) that were deep in modal, microtonal and odd time signatures. But also as an Australian, I listened to English language independent punk and rock. So when Quarters! came out in 2015, I was hooked. And then came Nonagon Infinity, I was pumped. And then Flying Microtonal Banana came out, and my worlds collided. I have not been the same since. Whereas PDA left me punch drunk, Silver Cord felt like a massive swirling head trip - like I experienced reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez's '100 Years of Solitude'.

[@jackdonenberg9355]

MORE GIZZ PLEASE!!! Easily one of if not the most creative rock band right now imo. Thanks Prof as always !

[@colef6855]

I think King Gizzard took a big artistic gamble by going for the whole hyperprolific genre-swappers thing, but at this point they've achieved something really astounding by managing to tie it all together within the same universe. Taken in a vacuum, two albums like PetroDragonic and Silver Cord might seem totally disparate, hard to understand, or even gimmicky. But everything they've built up makes it all make sense as part of the same artistry and unifying signature sound. It's so impressive and incredibly unique how they manage to make albums this different from each other STILL sound like signature Gizz. they could really go anywhere from here, already excited for the next album. Also the jam band + electronic dance music connection is totally spot on. There's a surprisingly big crossover of fanbases at some big festivals and such where there are only jam bands or DJs. maybe it just comes down to the combination of danceability + improvisation + common drug use

[@jimmyjohnson2465]

Funnily enough the drums on this album arent actually programmed. They were all played live by the drummer on an electronic kit. As for who's playing what, all the band members are credited playing different synths, although it seems Stu did do the bulk of it.

[@sksii]

Cavs is credited with a drum machine, too, so it wasn't all on the Simmons kit

[@k.g.47]

I really like that the kick is not quantised. Cavs is a beast

[@polinttalu7102]

Joey carried the Synths in the credit

[@dawsonsouza8833]

It’s a mix of Drum machine and Simmons drums

[@GameJunkyard11]

Good day sir, I'd like to request you to cover the new Sprain album, "The Lamb As Effigy". It's a very harrowing yet beautiful exploration of hopelessness and self-loathing, and it has some great lyrical and super wild instrumental moments. The band also broke up shortly after its release, unfortunately.

[@Purplecocobolo]

this album Pietro Drakonovitch are some of my favourites in recent memory. i bought both albums and enjoy them immensely. tbh, i’m a gizzard super-fan. i know ALL the lyrics to MOST of their songs. i’m the Gizzoid. anyway, AVAA. also, Chang’e is pronounced “Chong-uh” (idk ipa) anyway, i wish i had the charisma needed to talk to a camera for 45 minutes straight. keep up the good work 👍

[@TheSpiritVideo]

Every time you listen to this album you hear something new and the vibe makes you feel like you're actually leaving your body. Best band in all the land

[@JakobvonRaumer]

AVAA! I think you'd really enjoy the Red Rocks live album, it's almost 9 hours through all of their styles and all parts of their discography. Maybe like with Grateful Dead and other Jam band, I hold their live albums as almost as important as the studio albums.

[@HybridHalfie]

Yep as someone who was there for 2/3 nights it is brilliant. They went from “murder of the universe” to “blame it on the weather” which was the weirdest transition in music history lol

[@dragon13304]

The Silver Cord is my absolute favourite track off the album, that little sound "Boop" that you described is great and I felt that Sigur Ros feel aswell and Joey's vocal effects are amazing, and that warm embracing part was amazing!

[@nayibmc5437]

PetroDragonaBitch is definitely my favorite Gizz album

[@ahealthkit2745]

PitryoDragunavitch is pretty great

[@ShineOnBenevolentSun]

I'm hearing The Future Sound of London from the 4:30 mark of The Silver Cord extended version. This album is, to me, a prayer for rebirth and renewal after apocalypse. The electronic dance format makes sense as dancing is a traditional form of prayer and worship.

[@Miquelodeon87]

I've seen them play The Silver Cord at a live gig and it was boooonkers. They opened the show with it. Just brilliant. All of them except for Cav (the drummer) got around the synth and mix table fiddling with the keys and buttonst, by the way.

[@liquidpebbles7475]

BUT PROFESSOR you gotta review the latesy pink siifu album... billy woods adjacent, feature on many tracks, latest project is very interesting, not in the way you expect tho

[@paolomasia91]

Great point about The Who! Totally agree! Your review and your playlist made me be very curious to listen this King Gizzard album. AVAA!

[@aaronrice4607]

Thank you for your Gizz reviews. They always bring me joy, just like King Gizz.

[@ammjd3418]

Hey professor! Awesome AVAA as always lmaoo! I do agree that the extended mixes are better in every way, except their transitions. The shorter versions are far better sequenced and flow together better in my opinion Edit: i wrote this comment halfway in. Had to edit and thank you for giving The Who their well deserved props

[@kendurham6784]

I enjoyed your analysis and enthusiasm for The Silver Cord. Though I'm a big fan of the band I hadn't got round to listening to this album before seeing this video the other day so thanks for prompting me to check it out. To be honest I haven't got past the track The Silver Cord (extended mix) to the rest of the album yet - its just dragged me in completely. In addition to the influences you have described here, the first 2 minutes or so take me back to one of my favourite late 80's/early 90's albums - Passion (music for the Last Temptation of Christ) by Peter Gabriel. "Of These, Hope" in particular has a similar epic soundstage with rise and release moments. As an aside I realise now on relistening to Passion why I so immediately loved KGLWs microtonal music - Peter Gabriel was training my adolescent brain way back then.

[@DarkPassenger111]

AVAA - have you checked out King Gizzard's drummer's solo album from 2021? Cavs. It's entirely percussion for 43 minutes and it's way better than it has any right to be. Anyway, I think I might prefer PetroDragonic Apocalypse a bit more than this one, but your enthusiasm has me itching to listen to it again. I like it, but I couldn't wrap my head totally around the genre switch up this time. Now I think I better understand it.

[@colefiler1429]

Saw them live at red rocks last year on mushrooms during day of the dead. Top 10 experience

[@vladimirploppers5789]

Underrated reviewer

[@sksii]

I think they might be at Red Rocks again next fall, but the tour announcement should be soon (I'm guessing next week). Time to start planning!

[@LastJabberwocky]

Joey Walker, KGLW's lead guitarists (under nickname Bullant), has also recently recorded a great bop of an electronic album called "Late Life Circ"!!

[@marcusfoley3347]

Here ya go Professor, I've saved your lazy arse from having to wander over to Bandcamp, enjoy! credits released October 27, 2023 Recorded by Stu in the King Gizz rehearsal studio by the Merri Creek in January 2023. Studio setup by recording engineers Nico Wilson and Laura Hancock Overdubs recorded in green rooms, hotels, airports and busses in France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Czechia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, England, Australia and the USA between March and July, 2023 Mixed by Stu at Newmarket Studios in North Melbourne with the help of recording engineer Guus Hoevenaars. Two sessions: one in May and another in July 2023 Mastered by Joseph Carra in July 2023 Produced by Stu Mackenzie Cover photography, design and layout as well as sunglasses design by Jason Galea Sunglasses on the cover handcrafted by Radio Eyewear - Amby: Vocals / Yamaha DX7 / Moog Grandmother / Mellotron / Roland JX-3P Cavs: Simmons Drum Synthesiser / Roland TD50X Cookie: Roland Juno-X / Korg Poly-61 / Casio DG-10 / Yamaha DX7 / Boss DD-7 / EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine / Strymon BlueSky Joey: Vocals / Roland rc-505 / Arturia Keystep Pro / Roland TR-8 / Mutable Instruments Plaits / Intellijel Quadrax / Happy Nerding FX Aid / Intellijel Metropolis / Befaco Hexmix / Intellijel Bifold / Make Noise Mimeophon / Make Noise Maths / Mutable Instruments Rings / Doepfer A-182-1 Switched Multiples / WMD Geiger Counter / Intellijel Quad VCA / ALM Pamela’s New Workout / Joranalogue Filter 8 / Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter / Music Thing Turing Machine / Eowave Quadrantid Swarm / XAOC Devices Belgrad Dual Peak Filter / Mutable Instruments Ripples / Instruo Cs-L Complex Oscillator Lukey: Moog Matriarch / Moog Sub 37 / Yamaha Reface DX / Roland SH-01A Stu: Vocals / Roland Juno-60 / Casio SK-5 / Casio DG-1 / Ableton Push 2 / Mellotron / Moog Matriarch / Roland Juno-X / Roland TR-808 / Piano / Boss ME-50 / Boss DD-3 / EarthQuaker Devices Rainbow Machine / Strymon BlueSky / Dunlop Cry Baby

[@trousermouse7940]

AVAA love your work and king gizzard

[@scottdur3810]

Hey Professor Skye, I agree that I like the extended version more, but the standard edition vinyl has locked grooves and hidden tracks that are not on the extended version.

[@lenijohnson]

the drums aren't programmed, the drummer michael cavanagh is playing an electronic kit avaa

[@lemoncherri]

I never thought I'd hear a homestarrunner reference on this channel lol

[@professorskye]

I was raised by a cup of coffee!

[@lemoncherri]

@@professorskye I can do it. I can do it nine times!

[@ahealthkit2745]

"little horny farts" was not a line I was expecting to hear used to describe the band's music, but I totally get it.

[@Dr._Geno]

I had to turn the volume up to hear the dog walking into and then out of the room you're recording in.

[@tillzillz]

"Please rise for our opening hymn, "In The Garden Of Eden" by I. Ron Butterfly" AVAA!

[@professorskye]

Top 3 episode

[@panthalassa561]

AVAA!! Was that a Strongbad reference at 16:50??

[@AndrewAmbroseLee]

AVAA! Baby Rave!

[@BelzertheRippler]

AVAA!

[@andrewryanrhea]

They don't use all 6 in the studio most of the time

[@catsy4614]

AVAA.

[@ethanlammar5554]

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