Following last year’s release of There Is No Balance, Wieuca is back at the end of 2014 with a new self-titled EP. They abandoned some of the country vibe that was found on the debut album, trading in the pedal steel for heavier fuzz and snarling feedback. The result of this brings out a certain space-like listening experience that transported me from my couch into a psychedelia-tinged trance for the EP’s 21-minute duration.
“Morning Light” starts the album off with a solid basis, providing a killer groove that made me think of the Alabama Shakes in the verse and REM in the chorus. Not bad things, not at all. The song transitions into the second track, “Geisler,” with ease. This is something that the band does nicely all throughout the album. “Geisler” and “Mind Control” are both huge musical soundscapes, using atmospheric guitar tones and copious amounts of sweet distortion to create multiple layers within each song. “Planet” has a nice slow build that moves from a guitar and vocal driven melody to a sharp and heavy breakdown to finish out the song. “Shining Black” brings a fitting close to the album, soaring high with echo driven guitar solos. Wieuca does a great job controlling the flow of this last song, dropping into slow guitar driven lines and slowly building back to absolute sonic chaos.
Wieuca’s second offering is an excellent example of a band that is doing things right. The EP sounds well polished and shows that the boys of Wieuca are starting to hit their stride. This EP does a great job of showcasing some of the musical evolution that the band has become known for. It showcases elements from their live performances, something that comes from just simply playing in front of people. As the band continues to grow, so does their music. Though in the same vein as the first album, Wieuca shows maturity and growth. These really are some excellent tunes.
