Higher Than The Sun...

Color Horror ~ Color Horror (2016)

Way way back in 2010 while trawling through the usual avenues I stumbled upon an absolute gem by a little band from Uruguay by the name of Ufesas. These guys were awesome. Right from the opening riffs of The Destroyer, the opening track of their initial debut, they buzzed, hummed and fuzzed a solid LoFi mix of gritty rock and roll and traditional desert psych. The following year the band recorded their first full length self titled album which had been penned to have been released on the now sadly defunct Droehnhaus label, who'd previously put out the first two Mountain Witch releases. Even going as far as having the LP's artwork fully mocked up, which strangely I still have a copy of somewhere. Alas, the physical release never came to fruition, but you can still download the album for free here, and I strongly urge you to do so.
So cut to this week and I get dropped an email out of the blue from former guitarist Leandro, telling me that three of the members have a new band. So, with much excitement, ladies and gents, I give you Color Horror...
Taking many of the aspects they picked up in their previous incarnation Color Horror really share much of the same vibe as the illusive Ufesas self titled, which was to be expected. Besides, why change a winning formula? Right from the get go the guys lay down exactly what you can expect from the rest of the album. Opening track Más Alto Que El Sol bares all the hallmarks of classic desert psych, while at the same time echoing a certain something of The Doors. Despite having listened to the song 14 times now, I'm still unsure exactly what it is about it. Either way, I reckon they could easily pull off a cover of Riders On The Storm. I think it's the trippy blues influenced psych that they have in common. I am glad to hear that that haven't strayed too far from they're heavy garage rock roots though, at least based on a cursory listen to the second track, Burning Trees. It's a slightly rawer take on their psych approach, etched with a heavy blues tone a bit like Hanni El Khatib and some of the early Black Mountain releases. Either way, it works, and works well. But enough of my rambling, go hear for yourself and be the judge. While free to download, I'm afraid you're gonna have to wait until a little later in the year for the full length album.
~ Jay

For Fans Of; Mars Red Sky, Causa Sui, 1000Mods, Ethiva, Black Mountain

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Color Horror (256kbps)

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The Second Coming...

Ufesas - Self Titled LP (2011)

Firstly I should say a massive thank you to the anonymous tip off that I got about this new release from Ufesas.
I loved the self titled EP they released last year when I stuck on here a few months back so needless to say I was pretty excited to hear that more brand new material was up for grabs. Especially as that trying to find info about the band them selves has been about as fruitful as my search for rocking horse shit. None the less, its here so lets just be thankful for that.
So can you expect an extension from the EP of sorts? Well, yes and no. There aren't quite as many driving moments in the same ilk as previous tracks like The Destroyer or Goin' To The Mountain. Those sort of frantic moments have been reigned in a little to give way to a more sombre post rock kind of affair. Everything's taken on a darker, slightly sinister tone that the guys have really made work and captured in they're on way. It's quite a bold move, straying away from such an aggressive well executed pace to something entirely moody and down beat in comparison. The more I listen to it the more I feel that it really sits equidistant between prog and psych - distant and ambient yet equally trippy at the same time. That may sound like a bit of a handful but fear not, it works. Besides the main thing is that you can really hear a real growth from the band. It's clear that it wasn't a spur of the moment decision to alter they're style, it's obviously been heavily worked on and perfected.
If you loved the EP like I did you should really dig this second offering, even if it doesn't initially grab you stick with it and give it a couple of listens... I guarantee it will get you hooked.
I may be way off the mark but I think there maybe a possibility that the album will be coming out on vinyl through german label Droehnhaus. The only reason I'm assuming this is because they were good enough to press the bands two track 7" and on the art work supplied when you actually download this album the labels logo appears in the top corner as well as the tracks being listed as sided A and side B. Lets keep our fingers crossed because I'd love to be chucking this onto my turntable in the near future.

~ Jay

For Fans Of; Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Deepseagreen, Free, The Black Velvets, The Desert Sessions

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Self Titled LP (320kbps)

U Is For Uruguay...

Ufesas - Self Titled EP (2010)

Here we go with another first, today we're in Uruguay. I can't say I've heard many bands from that neck of the woods. In fact I don't think I've ever heard any.
Initially I presumed this would make comparisons pretty difficult, but having listened to the EP a few times, it dawned on me that I could easily pass these guys off as English, American or even Aussies. They sing in english and sound like a slightly down toned, grittier version of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. So much so in fact that I guarantee that if you are familiar with BRMC you will here Ufesas track 'The Destroyer' and swear it was a cover of 'Spread Your Love'. Don't get me wrong, it's not a rip off, not by a long shot. But the two tracks share that very distinct fuzzy bass riff intro. Give it 30 seconds though and it soon passes and gives away to some great distorted garage blues and grimy vocals.
From a heavy aspect the EP does peak with the opening track, but the tempo does pick up again with the third song 'Goin' Up The Mountain' which screams through its allotted five and a half plus minutes with some awesome lead breaks and subtle psychedelic solo's.

This is a great little EP from a band you've most likely never heard of and may not hear from again - as it seems that in the last year and half they have only released this four track EP and a 7 inch titled 'The Black Ride' that has just one new track on of the same name. The B side being the opening track from this EP. I do hope they prove me wrong though, there's some obvious talent there and I'd love to here a full studio album from theses guys.

For Fans Of; Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Datsuns, Wolfmother, The Black Velvets, The Desert Sessions

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Self Titled EP (320kbps)