Harmonizer
Album by Ty Segall
Released 3 August 2021
Psychedelic Rock
Label – Drag City
Rating – 5/10
Ty Segall returns with his factory settings on full display.
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Wherever Ty Segall ventures, a fuzz pedal is likely within a close radius. The veteran psych rocker amplifies his toothbrush to beget a distorted crunch while maintaining oral hygiene; he dries his hair on ‘insane’ setting to elicit a hairstyle that resembles a big muff.
I say this in jest, as on many of Ty’s most recent projects, which have come with regularity, it’s been all about the fuzz. However, ‘Harmonizer’, which has suddenly fallen out of the sky and into our laps, addresses a “production redesign” that includes further emphasis on keyboards and electronics; a shocker that suits a surprise album drop.
But really, it’s still all about the fuzz, for better or worse. Sure, introduction ‘Learning’ features programmed drums and super digital synthesisers that resemble an alien language; and sure, ‘Pictures’ necessitates enveloping synth layers that blur in and out of frame to coexist with ‘them guitars’; but it’s all about the fuzz.
I always appreciated the complete fuzz freak-out that occurred on 2016’s ‘Emotional Mugger’, likely the most inventive that this version of Ty’s psych rock outlet could get, simply by going balls-out, but ‘Harmonizer’ both does and doesn’t rely on that level of persistence; the sound is there, but it’s being utilised to mould and harden the barest Ty Segall compositions.
If it’s used to belt out a big ol’ riff, see ‘Waxman’, it works wonders. I’m also fond of the tracks that just let it all pour, on which Ty stomps down with galoshes made of distortion; as if they’re conducting electricity blow-by-blow. The guitars thrust through sections of ‘Whisper’ like military beats; they flatter Ty’s voice and it flatters them on closing track ‘Changing Contours’.
And there is an intricacy to ‘Erased’ in the form of a low-end muck; he’s bought a new pedal to go along with his synthesiser. But ‘Ride’ and the title track meander, as if Ty felt as though the quintessence of his guitar playing was enough to excite fans after two years away; the former is actually quite revolting – Belcat-style guitar tones just aren’t exciting when used in a laidback manner; you may as well try to fall asleep while listening to Swans.
The guitars do much of the work on ‘Play’; there isn’t much of a song there, it’s just guitars. At least Ty tries to accommodate wife Denee Segall on ‘Feel Good’, essentially by writing an old school femme punk song – or potentially an LCD Soundsystem song – but it feels too little too late considering its spot as the album’s penultimate track.
Ty Segall being Ty Segall does have its value, but I’ve been listening to the guy for quite some time now, and I can only get so enthusiastic about his factory settings. Oh well, I need to stop; the word ‘fuzz’ has lost all meaning – we’ve milked it and the fuzz cow’s udders are sore…
Best tracks – ‘Whisper’ – ‘Waxman’.
Weakest tracks – ‘Ride’ – ‘Play’.
Rating – 5 out of 10
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