King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Phantom Island
On Phantom Island, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard keep it fresh with an orchestral twist on their usual psych-rock formula
Prolific Australian jam band King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard return for their 27th album Phantom Island, with a focus on journeys both metaphorical and literal, as each track plays on themes of being lost and found, wrapped up in an orchestral rock soundscape. The upbeat Deadstick features a crashing pilot contemplating their final moments over campy rock instrumentation, the track’s catchy refrain referencing the pilot’s lack of control over his aeroplane. Others are even less fortunate, like Aerodynamic's character who, after being struck by lightning, accepts their watery fate, reasoning that the sharks have to eat too.
But not everyone passing by Phantom Island is doomed. Sea of Doubt has our protagonist lost at sea without direction or assistance and yet he prevails against his metaphorical marooning through the power of friendship. While some tracks like Panpsych and Eternal Return remain lost at sea – the latter's lurching tempo is a bit of an auditory mess – KGLW's experimentation with brass, strings, and woodwind definitely hits more than it misses. Drawing together calamity and fortune in a novel way, 15 years in, Phantom Island shows a band still having fun making music together.
Listen to: Phantom Island, Deadstick, Sea of Doubt