Name: West
Brand: Wooden Shjips

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

thrill279cd

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2011-08-29

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

PIAS

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

790377027921

Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Wooden Shjips

Genre GB

Psychedelic

Label GB

American psychedelic rock band, *Wooden Shjips*, was formed in 2006 in San Francisco. Known for their mesmerizing soundscapes and hypnotic rhythms, the band has carved a unique niche in the music industry. Drawing inspiration from various genres such as garage rock, krautrock, and space rock, Wooden Shjips creates a sonic experience that transports listeners to another dimension.

With their distinct blend of swirling guitars, pulsating basslines, and ethereal vocals, Wooden Shjips has garnered a dedicated following worldwide. Their music captures the essence of psychedelic exploration while maintaining a modern edge. Fans of *Psychic Ills*, *Moon Duo*, and *Dead Meadow* will find themselves immersed in Wooden Shjips' captivating sonic universe.

Having shared stages with renowned acts like *The Warlocks*, *Sleepy Sun*, and *The Black Angels*, Wooden Shjips continues to push boundaries with their dynamic live performances. Their discography includes critically acclaimed albums such as "V." and "West," which showcase their evolution as musicians.

cd version in four panel mini-lp style gatefold package. wooden shjips, as it is today, started in 2006. the band self released a 10" and 7" that year and started playing shows shortly thereafter. prior to 2006, wooden shjips was an experiment in primitive and minimalist rock. after it imploded, ripley johnson, guitar and vocals, assembled the current lineup of dusty jermier on bass, nash whalen on organ, and omar ahsanuddin on drums. 'west' marks the first time the band recorded in a proper studio, as well as the first time with an engineer (phil manley). all previous recordings, either self-released, for holy mountain, or mexican summer were done more piecemeal in the band's rehearsal studio. 'west' was recorded and mixed in six days at lucky cat studios in san francisco. it was mastered by sonic boom at blanker unisinn, brooklyn, with additional mastering by heba kadry at the lodge in new york. the over riding theme for the album (as indicated by the title) is the american west, and all of the mythology, romanticism, and idealism that it embodies. the band members grew up on the east coast, so for a long time the history and literature of the west was an abstraction and a fascination for them. part of the allure of the west, which is part of the myth, is the concept of manifest destiny, the vastness, and the possibilities for reinvention, which is not to say that is what each song is specifically about, but it was very much an undercurrent during the songwriting of the album. the artwork also touches on the same theme by using an iconic structure that is both a gateway in a literal and metaphorical sense. it is easy to see why these would appeal to wooden shjips, as their music lends itself to exploration. it is both transformative and transporting, the sum being far greater than it's parts. the steady driving rhythms are the elliptical motion machine driven by the often thick and distorted guitar lines, melodic and boundless. where they may lead cannot be anticipated but following them is exhilarating. it is all about getting there, the destination, while the experience of getting there is an adventure. it is the guitar lines that guide both the listener and the band on the literal and metaphorical journey into the vastness. the ghostly vocals, obscured by dense layers of instruments surrounding them, are alluring with their airy mystery. this elusive quality further draws the listener in, while they attempt to grasp at their meaning. while indebted to both the psych music of the '60s and mid-'70s, electric neil young, and even the induced travels of spacemen 3, the wooden shjips' music is modern and in every way their own. 'west' is an epic journey to the edge and beyond.

West

Music GB