Album Review: Ty Segall - Freedom's Goblin

Mad musical geniuses who seemingly live to write and record usually all fall prey to the problem of inconsistent output.

If you freaked out to GOGGS in 2016, it's likely last year's eponymous probably felt just a little undercooked. Thankfully, Freedom's Goblin takes a walk on the wild side across the 19 tunes and 75 minutes of this manic and weird album. Segall ticks the usual psychedelic rock, garage and punk boxes to brilliant effect but goes well and truly beyond his usual tricks on this album. The blend is exuberant, but it is kind of unusual for Segall to mix up all these styles together and then reach beyond them to take it next-level.

Of course, it's surprising that he funks-out with a disco-punk take on Hot Chocolate's Every 1's A Winner. Even more surprising, Despoiler Of Cadaver rocks to '80s electro funk beats that are designed to freak us out. Segall has thrown all the songwriting skill he can muster at this album. The intricate horn arrangements of Rain, the pop melodies of My Lady's On Fire and The Last Waltz, the intense trash of Meaning and the wild, hair-metal shredding on She all speak to the eclectic range and reach of this album.

A wild ride for the price of admission.