Album Review: WACO – Human Magic

It’s been two long years since WACO‘s last release, the “Deathless” EP that was issued via Venn Records. Now they have a new home of Standby Records and they are unleashing their debut full full length “Human Magic” today. Opening with “The Jersey Devil” is a perfect start, this is a track erupts from the same punked up rock ‘n roll stable that sired Rocket From The Crypt and it’s a fine starting point, but it’s exactly that, as from this point “Human Magic” heads off on so many tangents it’s hard to keep track. This is an album of constant unexpected twists and turns, it switches from the party vibe of “Levenshulme Lover” to the stripped back indie of “N15” and the epic piano led style of “Daydream” through to the ethereal psychedelia of the album’s title track.

For me it’s when they crank up the volume and the random subject matter that WACO are at their best, “Anthony“, that’s dedicated top the kind of friendship that only exists virtually, the driven indie punk of “The Valleys” and “Smalltown Goths” and the demented glam rock stomp of “Catbrain” is where WACO come into their own. The fact that WACO have toured alongside acts as diverse as Juliette Lewis & The Licks, Anti-Flag and Slaves confirms that their sound is one that does not have a fixed appeal, this is an album laced with metaphysics, conspiracy theories and spirituality that comes at you from multiple directions and styles. The flip side of this is that it’s unlikely that anyone is going to love “Human Magic” in it’s entirety, the scattergun approach means that moments will be met with a dismissive shrug before being replaced with a wide grin or quite possibly a look of utter confusion.

WACO‘s website can be found here