OH DEATH

Goat is back! After two years hiatus, partly because Covid19 I think, they're now touring again in Europe. But their latest album came six years ago! In my last review I was wondering would it be their last because the album name 'Requiem', but I am glad I was wrong. Their strategy 'not to promote much' seems to work at least to me! I was just interested what was coming into Helsinki Festival and to my big surprise saw Goat-gig there! I am not in the facebook and that seems to be only place where they inform what is happening. Anyway really big surprise to me was there were lots of audience waiting that gig! I talked with one guy there and he told me their latest gig in Finland in 2018 was also same kind of success as this. It was so great, after sitting two pieces in the chair with my strongly moving legs I just have to go and dance with others there! I recognized many odd songs to me, so I wondered were there also coming new album. I was right, after few weeks I noticed this album from levykauppa 'x -sites. But I believe there are Goat-fans from 'World Music'-times with no idea bands still going.

'Soon You Die' opens album very strongly with really sixties sounding wahwah/fuzz -guitars! Female sounding singers sing 'soon you die, don't you cry, cause you have time to go party', so Goat invites us into their party! Direction changes great acoustic sounding in 'Chukua Pesa'. Very sad but beautiful song! Got no idea what language they are singing. But electric vibe comes back in very funky 'Under No Nation'. In gig other of female sounding singers had some strange percussion in this song that she hit in chorus part, that gave nice trash sound but also looked great! It's also in album version. There is very free jazzy sax too. Next 'Do the Dance' is very typical Goat-song from 'World Music' days so I guess that's the reason it has listened already over 70 000 times in Spotify! Anyway it has awesome piano and sixties sounding organ in chorus. Vinyl A-side ends to 'Apegoat' that is short, funny acoustic free jazz-piece.

'Goatmilk' starts B-side with speech that could be from Gandhi. Then comes very relaxing groove. Soon begins so sad and beautiful vocals, that really moves me! This milk heals your soul! 'Blow the Horns' continues straight after 'Goatmilk'. Rhythm changes really African kind. This piece could have been for example 'Amadou & Mariam' -piece from Mali. In the begin of 'Remind Yourself' there are lyrics from some sixties songs. Soon starts very electro sounding rhythm that fits perfectly into other acoustic instruments. Really gentle piece! In the end there is very bright piano playing. 'Blessings' is short instrumental overture to 'Passes Like Clouds' that ends album in a very mystic way!

I am so excited of Goat's return and this album that I liked to give this full five stars! But truth is they went the farthest possible in their great 'Requim' album in their basic style, so now they're just repeating themselves. But what a great way! To make masterpiece again they have to change their songs more complicated, but I think they just want to go this way and that's totally ok to me. 'Helsingin Sanomat' reviewer of their gig criticize their performing under unidentified persons. I understand them fully, in this world where internet knows even every place of hair of some idol it's awesome there is band that just want to make music! I really hope long age for this great band!! I am so glad there are still at least few bands that make this kind of music I just love!