ALBUM REVIEW: GUM - <em>OUT IN THE WORLD</em>
Tame Impala and POND multi-instrumentalist Jay Watson AKA GUM, is back with his fifth studio album, Out In The World, set for release on Friday June 12th. Out In The World is a concoction of immersive modern tones and 60’s nostalgia, taking you on a journey deep into the unknown searching for a place of quiet and calm. Whilst the album doesn’t transcend far past his musical roots, Watson’s musical expertise exudes through in this seamless soundscape with fluidity that goes beyond any single genre.
The album embarks with the dreamy Weightless In L.A, full of ethereal synths and fuzzy electric guitar. It’s reminiscent of the song an extraterrestrial tribe would welcome you with after landing on their home planet; super warm and trippy. Second track, Airwalkin’, fires you into the year 3000 with robotic vocals and sci-fiesque effects before gliding back down to earth and into the title track, Out In The World.
The Thrill Of Doing It Right sounds like the lovechild of Tame Impala’s “Lonerism” and Foster The Peoples’ “Sacred Hearts Club”; it’s one of my favourite tracks from the album. Many Tears To Cry and Alphabet Soup are perfect examples of how GUM has twisted the funky, psychedelic jams of the past and launched them into a melancholy futuristic world. Down The Dream is quite brooding yet light and optimistic, with guitar licks reminiscent of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway To Heaven”. The closing track is You Make Your Own Luck, filled with teenage-like angst and self discovery, then bursting into an absolute dance party for the last chunk of the song.
Gum makes it look way too easy, but man does this dude know how to put together a beautifully endless collection of songs. Perfect for melting away troubles and escaping reality, Out In The World is the latest and greatest in effortless, easy listening.