The imagery of their name conjures up a free wandering
kindred spirit sauntering around the sprawling suburbs of the City of Angels
and onwards into the wider expanse of the vastness of the Golden State. If you
spend a little bit of time immersing yourself into MYSTERY DRUG the new album from
I See Hawks in LA then this imagery will appear more apparent and ultimately
you’ll be consumed by an agenda-free band that leaves an impression of dancing
to no other tune than their own.
By exhuming all the past influences of west coast country
rock, the band formed in 1999 by Rob Waller and the Lacques Brothers, Paul and
Anthony, have become torch bearers for this iconic sound. They have perfectly
captured the mix of rock riffs and solos, gentle pedal steel laced harmonies
and a driving acoustic beat. The song writing of Paul and Rob, aided by several
other contributors varies between the implicit and the explicit with an element
of mystery to just keep those brain cells lubricated.
Weighing in at thirteen tracks and a not-too-brief forty
nine minutes, MYSTERY DRUG will not fulfil you after a couple of listens. In
fact it will leave you intoxicated until you feel that you have grasped its
credentials. While you are undertaking this journey of discovery, your mind
will be seduced by an engaging sound and a strong vocal delivery.
The core of the 2013 version of I See Hawks in LA, that will
also bring this album to the intimate listening venues of the UK this summer,
is Rob Waller on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, Paul Laccques on guitar and
Paul Marshall on bass, with the latter two providing vocal back up. For the
album, extra bass, lashings of pedal steel and a hint of accordion has been added
to ramp up the alt-country vibes. Amongst industry luminaries who have
acquainted themselves with the ‘Hawks’ are Lucinda Williams, Chris Hillman and
Dwight Yoakam.
Of the thirteen songs forming MYSTERY DRUG there is an
outstanding track that you envisage being lifted from the album and appearing
on many summer playlists. ‘We Could All
Be In Laughlin Tonight’ is a wonderful tale of plying your musical craft at
the bottom of the pile where the lack of perks extend to the exclusion of
steak, lobster and top shelf drinks from each venue’s band order menu. You feel
the frustration of this life of Skynrd covers and decisions where to head next.
With a sound harking back to one of traditional county, this track can’t be recommended
highly enough.
Of the others, ‘Oklahoma’s
Going Dry’ , ‘Sky Island’ and ‘The
River Knows’ have that implicit imagery that exists once you’ve freed
yourself from the urban constraints. More explicit numbers include the
forthright ‘Stop Driving Like a Asshole’ and the new wave vibes attaching
themselves to ‘My Local Merchants’
with its take on the extra appeal of your local convenience outlets. ‘If You Remind Me’ has some drop dead
harmonies crowning this reflective number.
‘Rock n Roll Cymbals
from the Seventies’ is an spritely little rocking effort with a catchy chorus
and containing an element of repetition as found in the more hypnotic number ‘One Drop of Human Blood’. ‘Mystery Drug’, ‘Yesterday’s
Coffee’ and ‘The Beauty of the Better
States’ will require a little perseverance in their understanding but as previously
mentioned this journey of discovery is ably assisted by an ear pleasing melodic country
sound spiced up in places with some subtle rock.
Your Americana music listening experience will be enhanced
with a dose of I See Hawks in LA and MYSTERY DRUG is just the medicine to melt
away life’s afflictions. Catch them live or on record and don’t forget to
playlist the killer track.