Recently celebrating his bands 25th anniversary with a tour of New Zealand and Australia, Anton Newcombe shows no sign of stagnation or slowing down after a tumultuous, but rewarding career. As The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s leader and principal songwriter, Newcombe’s presence has been the only constant throughout the bands illustrious and eccentric history.
You can count on one hand the number of bands who continue to make visceral, exciting and relevant music after 25 years and 14 studio albums. Mini Album Thingy Wingy, BJM’s 15th release (technically a mini-album, but at 34 minutes long enough to be a proper record) is another fantastic addition to one of the most interesting discographies in indie rock.
More refinement than reinvention, Mini Album Thingy Wingy showcases the hallmarks of the BJM sound. Opener ‘Pish’ exemplifies the booming 60s psychedelia that the group are so indebted to, recalling classic BJM tunes like ‘Anemone’ and ‘Straight Up and Down’.
Sixties worship is even clearer on a reading of the 1967 classic ‘Dust’ by the 13th Floor Elevators. Newcombe pays tribute to the US psych pioneers with a touching, heartfelt performance of a song that clearly influenced his own body of work.
‘Leave it Alone’ showcases another BJM stalwart in Newcombe’s simple but powerful and melodic guitar playing. Featuring the hypnotic; infectious riffs the BJM frontman is known for, the song, and the album as a whole, prove that Newcombe’s exceptional gifts have not even slightly diminished with time.
