It’s with absolute privilege that I get to review the new album The Space by none other than Somali Yacht Club. Formed in Ukraine in 2010, Somali Yacht Club is, in this humble writer’s opinion, the pinnacle of stoner/psychedelic rock, and The Space is no exception. This album plays like a Sunday afternoon in the Springtime.
It’s criminally good. Somali Yacht Club is comprised of Ihor Pryshliak on vocals, Artur Savluk on bass, and Lesyk Mahula on drums. The Space is their 4th full-length album and is due to be released April 22 on Season of Mist records.
Picture this, you’ve had a big weekend and you’ve got friends coming over for a chilled-out session. You want one last hurrah before coming into Monday.
The BBQ is fired up and the beers are chilling. What tunes do you put on to match the mood. Well, my friends, look no further than Somali Yacht Club!
Don’t trust me? Go check out the first single from the album, Silver, it’s available now on YouTube. Silver is the first track on the album and it’s a haunting piece that takes the mind on a journey meandering through the countryside or floating in the sky. I did mention this is a psychedelic rock album, right?
Pulsar is the stand-out track for me. It’s sweeping and soaring and just overall lovely. I enjoy moments like this in everyone’s hectic lives. It’s a reminder to take the time to stop and appreciate the beauty that the world provides. The way Somali Yacht Club can pull off these vibes, where so many others fail, is due to the intricacies in the music. It’s so easy to lack depth with stoner/psychedelic but that’s not the case here. Somali Yacht Club somehow pulls off twists and turns, changes in tone and pitch, yet retain the stoner vibes where so many others fail.
I’ve enjoyed every minute of the album. It’s now in regular rotation on my playlist when I need a break from brutality. It’s important to take those at least occasionally, right? Even if just to make the brutality heavier by comparison. This is a near-flawless album from Somali Yacht Club and their strongest offering to date.
I was of two minds about mentioning the invasion of Ukraine since I didn’t want that to overshadow this exceptional release. However, it’s impossible not to make the comparison between a horrific conflict and this album which is all about goodness and chilling out. Between the time I first listened to this album and when I finished my review, Somali Yacht Club’s home country has been invaded by its neighbor in Russia and I find that in the back of my mind when I listen to The Space. I and the team at Metal Roos wish Somali Yacht Club safety.
Tracklist:
- Silver
- Pulsar
- Obscurum
- Echo of Direction
- Gold
- Momentum
Somali Yacht Club: Facebook
Release Year: 2022
Label: Season of Mist
Category: Album
Country: Ukraine
Reviewed by Phil Bergersen
