Review: Homegrown ‘Homegrown’
Homegrown… in our circle, it generally means two things. One is a local act, the other is local devil’s lettuce. Sweden’s Homegrown is a testament to both those things. The Gothenburg four-piece return for Round 2 of their densely packed instrumental psych rock with this, their self-titled record via Majestic Mountain Records.
The homegrown is immense, and these gentlemen have a lot to harvest. Managing to take expected ‘70s influences from krautrock, jazz and folk but never feeling like an uninspired retro act, this album is brimming with vigor and tie dye-colored energy.
Frihetsvisa i A-Moll kicks off with Comets On Fire-esque spacy flourishes colliding into some heady Captain Beyond-like fretwork for a bountiful display of melodic avalanche before unexpectedly slowing down for a gorgeous dirge across the sea. Deliciously wa’d out funk greets us on Häxjakt i Snetakt that smacks into the listener like a slightly less-latinized Santana.
Adams Äpple is a much more dialed back vibe, opting for less percussive assault and frenetic energy for something more meditative that brings to mind Samsara Blues Experiment. The musicianship is ferociously on point, with the guitar harmonies in particular sounding whacked out and unpredictable.
multiple moods, acoustic flourishes, occasional flashes of mellotron, some serious eccentricity and a strong sense of flamboyant character…
A strong dose of folk permeates this record as well, with the decidedly-but-only-partially melancholic Mylingen, perhaps bringing to mind more recent progressive metal ventures into the genre rather than a ‘60s and ‘70s approach. It feels monolithic, pondering, and perhaps lost in an apocalyptic time in stark contrast to much of the album’s jubilance. Weirdo folk stylings also make their way into the dastardly Den Hornkrönte which makes me picture a mischievous wizard up to less-than-honorable pursuits. Easily one of the most aggressive tracks on the album.
Homegrown really put all sonic ambition into their self-titled. It has multiple moods, acoustic flourishes, occasional flashes of mellotron, some serious eccentricity and a strong sense of flamboyant character. As stated before, this album manages to be a contemporary effort that blends its various influences into such a tight and wild Nordic package instead of being a less-than-impressive tribute act. If you want a truly fun instrumental psych rock experience, better roll up a doobie of this Homegrown.
Label: Majestic Mountain Records
Band Links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Rob Walsh
