Recorded over a period of four days in The Meadow, Wicklow, the debut album by Dublin-based trio New Secret Weapon is wildly imaginative and full of occasionally unhinged, face-melting riffs and head-cracking time changes. A fusion of funk, jazz, prog, alternative and desert rock, this is a dense and complex effort that will delight those willing to spend time really listening.
As surprising as some of the musical twists and turns are, what’s most astonishing is David Griffin’s voice. Part Jeff Buckley circa-My Sweetheart The Drunk, part Mike Patton, his vocal gymnastics are a joy to listen to: they really draw you into the likes of the menacing ‘You’re Still Losing’. However, ‘Rose’ is my pick of the bunch: the sprawling seven-minute epic splices Kyuss with The Doors to devastating effect. If you love acts like Mr Bungle, then you’ll adore New Secret Weapon.