Zuffalo are a guitar driven, psychedelic funk rock band that incorporate folk and pop based melodies into their sound. The group are based in Toronto and comprise Kim Manning (vocals, keys), Mikey Vukovich (vocals, bass), Sean Steele (vocals, guitar) and Eric Vanier (drums). Their latest full length release `Birdbrain` is out this month.
The album opens with `Birdman` which may or may not be a tribute to Charlie Parker the American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Nevertheless it`s quite a funky psychedelic piece to open on. There`s some nice snatches of drum, bass, keys, and a delightful guitar solo towards the latter end with a trumpet with what sounds like a mute attached following along and closing the number out. We have a gentle delicate balanced wistful opening to `On A Windmill` which then takes a bit of a curve ball and becomes jazzier but retaining it`s delightful melody with tingling piano keys. It returns to the original contemplative texture before again drifting off but this time it`s faster and dreamier and reminded me of some of the Grateful Dead jams. Lovely stuff. Lyrically it seemed to reflect back to a past phase of a relationship and wanting to return to that time.
`Yeah, There`s An Island Somewhere` had a Steely Dan vibe about it and seemed possibly to relate to getting over a failed romance and maybe succumbing to the influence of the demon drink. It might just have been me but `Flowering Rush` brought to mind some of the wonderful numbers The Allman Brothers band gifted us. At times I felt part of this marvellous session which had it all from a heavy organ sound, rolling drums, bass tones and guitar solos and riffs. One to sit back and just enjoy.
`In Another Time` has Kim Manning taking up the vocal lead on this more laid back but quite trippy number about seizing the moment and living in the now, taking time to just go outside and enjoy the sunshine and appreciate what you have. A number about longing for human connection follows with `Can You Run Out? `, inspired by John Lennon’s 1974 record `Walls And Bridges`, which came from when he was separated from Yoko Ono. It has some cracking hand percussion driving this quite retro piece along.
`Tropics And The Torrid` is a trippy affair musically and lyrically. It really put me in mind of Paul Simon`s `Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard`. We have an intricate guitar solo around the midpoint with what i`m sure was a Jew’s harp accompaniment. Kim again heads up the vocals on `Big Man` a laid back offering with piano keys and what sounded like a sax running through. It would seem to be a subtle viewpoint on the of responsibilities of the powerful albeit human or corporation.
The album closes out with `Open Eyes` and it`s a big number in many ways. A song that seems to encourage us to step back, open up and appreciate the world we live in. It starts pretty heavy and has that sort of progressive rock feel before drifting to a much more mellow trippy outing before returning back to where it began. We then slide in and out of lush melodies and far out and blistering guitar riffs then it all dies down, and a guitar, drum and organ lead us gently along. A bass line then guides us back to the more out there structure before the track ends with whistling and birdsong. Weird but wonderful.
`Birdbrain` is a real joy and covers a range of styles from progressive rock to jazz to folk with some bluesy and melodic trippy journeys. There`s something here we can all enjoy. Zuffalo seem the sort of outfit that would go down a storm at a festival. A real get up and let loose band.
Rating 9/10
