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May 02, 2017 Big Walnuts Yonder By Dustin Krcatovich

Big Walnuts Yonder sound almost exactly like what you’d expect out of a combo of Mike Watt (Minutemen), Nels Cline (Wilco), Greg Saunier (Deerhoof), and Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos), but unlike death, taxes, and other such predictable things, that ain’t no shame. Each member’s ability to combine weirdo prog-level precision and classic SST freakcore abandon is brought to the fore here, sounding for all the world like a breathy modern take on classic Beefheart (albeit minus the Howlin’ Wolf rips, and with a lot more effect pedals). This is the sort of thing which could’ve easily gone off the rails into “for-musicians-only” territory—and some might say that, on tracks such as the extended workout “Flare Star Phantom,” it does—but this crew bring a focused, songs-first mentality which keeps Big Walnuts Yonder in relatively accessible territory without sacrificing any of its sense of adventure. (www.sargenthouse.com)

Author rating: 7/10