The latest release from Age of Iguana brings out a completely genuine and authentic psychedelic rock powerhouse of a soundscape that has the ability to whisk you away back to the late '60s and early '70s when experimental fuzz rock was at its height, and they do it with an attitude that bleeds just the right aesthetic to make it all work perfectly.
The Creature Comforts album hits all the sweet spots with this colorful and perfectly balanced edge that pays attention to actual guitar tones and riffs that all drive the songs from beginning to end.
And I think that's part of what makes this record so special.
There's a freeing spirit behind it all and you can actually hear that in the music and if you let it, it'll just take you away to another place altogether.
Honestly, it feels great to let that happen.
This record, to me, was a form of escape so that I could step into someone else's world for a little bit before coming back to my own reality and I think we need a lot more of that in music in general.
The other thing that really blew me away about this record was the sheer fact that it feels like everything was recorded in some sort of live setting because the players are all feeding off of each other's energies the entire time or at least it seems that way.
So, you get this awesome combination of songs that give you classic hooks and tonality with this live performance energy and those two elements along with that open and free vibe, makes everything so addictive that you never want to stop listening.
There's something about this record that also feels kind of nostalgic and I don't just mean because of that 70s aesthetic because even that was before my time.
I'm a child of the 80s and I grew up during that time. And although there was still plenty of this kind of stuff on the radio when I was a kid, it wasn't the main genre of the decade.
That nostalgia actually comes from the songs feeling like they could have been some kind of soundtrack to different chapters of my own life, and I love that factor.
The vocals are riddled with character and everything about this record screams attitude.
Even though it does have that really classic aesthetic nailed, it also does have elements of other genres that are blended in from time to time.
For example, to me, some of the songs have this grunge feel to them and others have a little bit of a surf rock undertone, so you get a lot of different styles mixed into the whole piece of work.
This was a killer record from beginning to end, and with its release, we wanted to have a sit-down with the band to find out where this record actually came from and what might be coming up next for the guys.
Here's what went down.
Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as a band?
Age of Iguana was created out of necessity for me as a vehicle to create music as a release. A way of channeling emotions and experiences into something constructive. Bernard (bass) and I go back to high school and we've worked on music together on and off for years. When we had enough material we met Aido from an ad we placed on Melband for a drummer, who has been a great fit creatively. We we're the classic power trio for a couple of years until we recruited Chris Taranto (guitar, vox), who I've known for years through the St Kilda scene, and now Chris brings another dimension of song writing to the Iguana verse.
Buzz Slayers: What kind of things really inspire songs for you?
Love, heartbreak, anger, fear, frustration, enlightenment, sorrow, pain, jealousy, Art and music.
Buzz Slayers: This album has some interesting approaches to it! Can you give us some of your biggest influences musically?
The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Spencer P. Jones, Bowie.
Buzz Slayers: What are you doing when you're NOT working on music?
Frisbee, bikes, hanging with my wife and cat, movies, and reading. Bernard plays tennis and rides a motorcycle. Not simultaneously. Although that would be a fun party trick.
Buzz Slayers: Who's in all your headphones right now?
The Grapes, Tess Parks, Subterranean Deadbeats, Snail Mail. Big League and the Rinehearts
Buzz Slayers: Are you guys doing any live performances right now?
BODRIGGY brewing with Big League Sun 10th Sep.
The ESPY basement supporting the Rinehearts Thurs Oct 26th
Buzz Slayers: Do you record these at a big studio or do you have a home studio set-up?
Both! We go all out at Reverie studios in Coburg with Richard Putnam and Glenn Newman when we can. Benny Iguana (guitar, vox) records, mixes and masters music at Chateau Iguano, where his modest but effective studio station is set up in a corner of his apartment.
Buzz Slayers: What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
More music and the odd show here and there.
Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to say to fans of the music?
Huge thanks for listening, coming to the shows, and for following us on the socials. The best way to support the band is through Bandcamp if you'd like to contribute.
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