It's one thing for a band to claim that "they follow their own path"; it's another thing entirely for this claim to be 100% true. Formed in '02, Deutschland's UNDER BROOKLYN PALMS are really onto something with their psychedelic-fried stoner rock served on a platter of southern blues. Unlike countless other bands that have reached our doorstep who have done zero research on our site, these guys are an absolutely perfect fit around here and will (not "should"…"WILL") be warmly embraced by the Peacedogman faithful.

First off, what a way to start a record! "Another Night" gets the listener's feet wet with a straight-forward stoner track with the opening line "Come on leave your hole / there ain't no better fucking time!" Hell yeah! Vocalist Christian Baureidel is a phenomenal frontman, and his God-given gruffness really sells these songs. The next two songs, "Flüsterasphalt" and "Restlessness", are where the blues really start making their presence felt, with enough looseness and swirls to make Jimi jealous. The 12:21 minute "The Brain That Does Not Fit" is the album's first foray into the psychedelic, and what an effort it is! The twists and turns of this track in particular bring to mind the good ol' days of early OPETH. And speaking of surprises, the next track, "El Bigote de la Bestia", is a bouncy, rockabilly venture with surf rock sounding breakdowns… yeah, as previously alluded to, there's a ton going on in this album! Following is the dreamlike "Gestrüppgesträuch" and then a rollercoaster of tracks collectively called "The Drowning Symphony": a spacey intro ("Incapable") that crescendos into an upbeat rocker ("Glory Ages") that decrescendos into a dark and gloomy piano-laced piece ("Listlessness") that crescendos AGAIN, this time with frantic snare pounding ("Drunken Lens"). Wow. Finally, after the tension's brought down again with the smooth acoustic jam "Tiredness" and we're greeted with the feedback exercise of "Astray", we dive headfirst into the 16:35 minute "Schlummerfunktion", the point of the album where everything we've heard thus far comes together in one last epic jam and ends with a mind fuck of about 10 minutes of echo and effects… a spectacular ending to a spectacular album.

Between the seamless blending of styles and moods, the length of the album (past the one hour 10 minute mark) and the, um, titillating artwork, to say that considerable effort has been put into this thing is grossly understating the truth here! However, the quality of the album notwithstanding, the biggest shocker of "Gestrüppgesträuch" has to be the fact that these guys are not yet signed! Come the fuck on, Electrohasch, get on the ball already! And while you're at it, put these guys on tour with COLOUR HAZE and send them to the States! I'd be first in line for that show…

- Cardona

OFFICIAL SITE: www.underbrooklynpalms.de

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