Thursday, 28 September 2023

TUSOC ~ ÉTER .... review


Desert Psychlist has something a little different and more than a little special to bring you today, that something is an album from an Argentinian combo calling themselves Tusoc and the album in question is called "Éter" (English translation: ether). Tusoc, Fabián Lugones (bass); Guillermo Lambrisca (guitar); Alberto Lugones (drums) and Fernando Morelli (vocals), formed in Rosario in 2020 and in 2022 they released their debut album "Un cipr​é​s en llamas". The bands sound is an enticing mix of heavy.psych, post rock and proggish metal flecked with elements of stoner grittiness and Latin swing, it's a sound that sits a little left of centre of what we usually post here on The Psychlist but its one well worth hearing.


Things begin fairly gnarled and heavy with opening track "Altiplano" but that initial heaviness soon settles down and the band slip effortlessly into a groove that sits somewhere between alt-metal and post-rock around a clean vocal (Spanish) edged with just hint of grittiness, its a sound that is easy on the ear yet gnarly enough to get the blood pumping. This is followed by "Forastero" a song with a loud/quiet/loud dynamic, its louds powerful and crunchy, its quiets sweeping and serene both dynamics decorated in vocal tones so smooth you could spread them on bread. "Vertiente" is up next and finds Tusoc flexing their experimental muscles, droning noise the platform from which a myriad of guitar effects is launched."Errante" follows and is a song that is partly a gentle stroll through the meadows and partly a strident gallop into battle and proves to be just as superb on both fronts. "Mitico" raises its head above the parapets next and is the perfect song for those out there who like their grooves with a little meat on them, it is a raucous romp packed with chugging riffs and searing solos driven by a tight rhythm section, it also boasts the albums grittiest vocal. "Icaro" is for Desert Psychlist the stand out track of the album, a song that is as tantalising and beautiful as it is punchy and aggressive, shimmering arpeggios and fractured chords making way for searing guitar solos and thrumming riffs, restrained rhythm standing aside for thunderous percussive attack, the vocals effortlessly switches up from a saccharine croon to a melodious yell as the song progresses. Title track "Éter" makes its appearance next and sees Tusoc adding a little doomic dankness to their already impressive armoury, the guitar tones here are darker, the drumming more insistent, the bass growlier and the vocals a touch more sneery and snarly. Tusoc brings things to a close with "Poniente" a brief but quite engaging instrumental piece that uses wind like effects to frame the gentle picking of what sounds like a mandolin, the song is not something you would expect as a closing statement but we did say these guys were a bit different.


Tusoc's
"Éter" is a stunning opus from a country whose music scene is fast growing in international stature, it is not a particularly heavy album nor is it one you could describe as being ambient but it does posses elements of both those dynamics. Tusoc's sound is an embracing one, it is a musical hug that wraps around you and pulls you in, and we all need a hug sometimes.
Check 'em out ...

© 2023 Frazer Jones



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