Prior to the release of Goat’s last album, Oh Death, it had been six years since our favourite Scandi shamen and women had treated us to any new tunes. Less than 12 months later, however, Goatman and his band of hipsters and tripsters are back with a fine serving of Medicine that will elevate the soul of anyone who cares to tune in.
Possibly influenced by their pagan folk soundtrack for Shane Meadow’s The Gallows Pole TV series, however, Goat’s new tunes see them move some of their wide-ranging global influences into the background, taking in a considerably more north European sound for their songs of life’s impermanence and how it is up to us all to step up and make the most of our time. In fact, there are plenty of nods to the Swedish psych-folk scene of the 1970s, with flutes and warped guitar sounds accompanying their somewhat more mellow tribal groove than previously.
Medicine is not all about chilling out though. “Vakna” is a head-spinning serving of fried psychedelic folk-rock, while “TSOD” has male vocals (a rarity for the band) buried deep in the mix of a trance-inducing, sitar-flavoured groove that has echoes of a tripped-out George Harrison. However, “You’ll Be Alright” is woozy and relaxed and final track, “Tripping in the Graveyard” features more flutes and a bucolic picked guitar before finishing up with a droning chant that will more than please any of our weed-smoking brethren who might be looking for something suitably laidback.
The album’s real highlight though is a stomping and earthy cover of Gås’ “Join the Resistance”. With a fist thrust firmly in the air and a fervent psychedelic groove of righteousness, there’s no doubt whatsoever where Goat stand on the way the world is turning as they spin heads and encourage feet to pound the earth. Indeed, few more inspiring tunes have reached these ears in 2023.
