Posted on: April 30, 2013 Posted by: James McQuiston Comments: 0
Master Musicians of Bukkake recently unveiled details of their new full-length entitled Far West which is due for release 10 June through Important Records. Today we dig deeper and reveal the context and hint at the sounds and influences of this wonderous new record.
“Go west, young man.” –Horace Greeley
On Far West the Master Musicians of Bukkake mark a turn from their Totem Trilogy. If the Totems were an expression of yang energy, then the Far West cycle is the yin that took seed within the trilogy.
What happens when you travel so far east looking for enlightenment that you pass your destination and are headed west again? The mania of being lost in the mountains of the Cascade Corridor, searching aimlessly for the Northern Pacific coast. A spiritual Donner party of sorts, feeding off fantasy and mirages and imaginary shamans. Far West is the soundtrack to this expedition to the caves of light we all travel into with hopes of acquiring redemption, only to realise our bodies have dissolved—gone like rain from the sky, snow from the ground, thoughts from the mind.

The sound of Far West is a progressive folk record inspired by Paul Giovanni’s Wicker Man soundtrack, early Canterbury prog folk, the suspenseful soundtracks of Goblin and Ennio Morricone, Gerry Goldsmith’s interwoven dark orchestrations, and Pacific Northwest folk rock. The Master Musicians of Bukkake take an earthly and shamanistic approach to these influences and infuse it with Krautrock pulses interweaved with acoustic guitars, intricately layered rhythms, hazed-out modular analog synths, brassy stabs, and cultish choirs. A true psychedelic, audiophile experience to dissolve your body in.

Far West also features backing vocals by Sub Pop! recording artists Rose Windows, a deluxe cover illustration by Simon Fowler (see below) and the amazing photography of Alison Scarpulla.

Master Musicians of Bukkake is:
David Abramson: percussion, drums, tef, shaman shakers, green fog
B.R.A.D: percussion, vocals, candles, sights unseen
Don McGreevy: percussion, drums, 12 string electric and acoustic guitar, mellotron, bass, brass arrangements
Randall Dunn: korg analog synths, mellotron, divining rod, water seeking foolishness
Milky: electric and acoustic guitar, synths, vocals, mossy fuzz
Timm Mason: electric guitar, serge modular synth, electric bass, insects
TRACKLISTING
1. ‘White Mountain Return’
2. ‘γη-νομος : GNOMI’
3. ‘Arche’
4. ‘Cave Of Light – The Prima Materia’
5. ‘You Are A Dream Like Your Dreamer – The Dark Peace’
6. ‘Circular Ruins’
Note: lyrics and music for “Circular Ruins” based on The Jorge Louis Borges story of the same title:
TOUR DATES
15-05-2013 – Zeche Carl – Essen, Germany
 16-05-2013 – Stpln – Malmo, Sweden
 17-05-2013 – Truckstop Alaska – Gothenburg, Sweden
 18-05-2013 – Bla – Oslo, Norway
 19-05-2013 – Kagelbanan – Stockholm, Sweden
 20-05-2013 – Loppen – Copenhagen, Denmark
 21-05-2013 – Kantine am Berghain – Berlin, Germany
 22-05-2013 – Ut Connewitz – Leipzig, Germany
  23-05-2013 – OCCII – Amsterdam, Netherlands
 24-05-2013 – VK – Brussels, Belgium
 25-05-2013 – Villette Sonique – Paris, France w/ Neurosis, Swans
31-05-2013 – Stereolux – Nantes, France
 01-06-2013 – Trix – Antwerp, Belgium w/ Wolf People, Alvarius B, …
02-06-2013 – Jubez – Karlsruhe, Germany
 04-06-2013 – L’Usine – Geneva, Switzerland
Sample sounds from Far West via this direct link: http://youtu.be/zof_tW4HrT0

Leave a Comment