Czechoslovakia - A'more

 

 

Czechoslovakia - A'more
KOTY Records - June 2021
Grunge, indie, noise, alternative
Rated: ****

And now for something a little different. A bit outside the HiVe's usual definition of "stoner rock", but certainly in keeping with the good vibes, is Poland's cheekily named trio Czechoslovakia. On their fourth album A'more, following 2019's excellent "Hvst", the band give themselves over fully to laidback summer feels with easy-going, melancholic drift. The bright, warm guitar tones are spiced up with Dinosaur Jr style squealing distortion, thrumming bass, and cushy yet insistent drumming. Opening cut "Jazda" lays out the game plan immediately, offering up jangly strums and squirrelly guitar leads over a feel-good beat and punky group vocals. The contrast between Czechoslovakia's lackadaisical undercurrent and their bursts of raw energy is a winning formula, keeping the listener tightly engaged while never losing hold of their heartwarming drift. "Wszystko" is another album highlight, wrangling a convincingly hairy start into an energetic drive of screeching fuzz and piercing leads, resulting in an exuberant and endlessly catchy chorus. A short but powerful drum-driven break sees the trio bare their inner punks, before launching a mile-high solo to do J. Mascis proud. The group's able to take their feet off the gas when needed as well, easing into the gentle chimes and eastern plucking of the beautiful "Lato", complete with some well-placed woodwind. If you're in the market for more hazy than harsh 90s vibes with a love of gnarly distortion, lay back and look no further than A'more.

(Written by Shasta Beast)

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