I hate Jon Gooch. There. I said it. Why? Because he's just one of those people that are so sickeningly talented that you just want to punch them. Not only does he make awesome music (and a LOT of it), he's also an incredibly gifted artist - you need look no further than the cover of this EP to see that. He's gifted both with the pen and the mouse, it would seem, as he's recently treated fans to a variety of his sketch work on Twitter/Facebook.
Of course, I don't really hate him. No, quite the contrary, and although his art is amazing, it is his music for which he's better known. He has numerous guises, but by far the most popular and prominent is Feed Me, and his new Psychedelic Journey EP further demonstrates why, as although it may not quite reach the heights of some of his previous releases, it's still an incredibly solid addition to his burgeoning catalogue. Read on to find out more, and our final verdict.
One of the great things about Feed Me, and I always think more artists should be like this, is that you never seem to be very far away from new material. It was only late last year that we got his sensational debut album, Calamari Tuesday, and although this EP hasn't *quite* managed to meet his very ambitious initial target release of before-the-end-of 2013, it's clear that the scope of this release expanded rapidly, with a full blown North American tour centred around it (feel free to announce some European/British dates too *nudge nudge*), and a totally new live show, Jon can definitely be forgiven for that, especially when there's apparently another EP AND an album on the way soon, as well as new material from his raft of side projects.
But back in the here and now. Psychedelic Journey is shorter than many of Feed Me's EPs, but is perhaps also one of his most poignant. Previous releases have sought to characterise the little green monster that has been an integral part of the whole ethos of Feed Me. But this time around, though the character of Feed Me appears on the cover, it feels like a characterisation of Jon himself, with his recent though and creative processes very much coming to the fore. It almost feels like a struggle to reach the end. That's by no means to say that the EP is bad - certainly not. What I mean by that, is that you can actually hear the evolution of style throughout, and it's almost a relief when the final track comes; it becomes clear that Jon has found himself again.
A slight dip in the track count, however, hasn't led to a dip in the quality. Despite the journey throughout, there's perhaps not as much innovation or scope this time around, but Jon seems to have found a style that he's comfortable with, and it feels like this EP is more of a path to somewhere else. Thankfully, this isn't really a problem, as the journey to reach this point is still great.
EP opener Patience seems to almost acknowledge the delay in the release of Psychedelic Journey, and indeed, Jon writes on SoundCloud: "Patience is my frustration at having to stop, and a reflection on the past." It clocks in as the longest track on the EP (just), and in my opinion is also the best. It's classic, melodic Feed Me. The synth rolls at the beginning... I'm sure there's a proper word for it, and being a musician I should probably know it... But anyway, they're absolutely exquisite, rolling into key notes of the melody, and carrying the listener along, edging ever closer towards the climax of the track. As everything starts to build, it actually briefly breaks down, with a sinister bass growl that could only come from Feed Me rearing its head and hinting at the madness to come. All that we're left with after this giant build up is an electric guitar. Was all that work for nought? No. Definitely not, as it soon builds back up into a thumping blend of bass, chords, a drilling guitar riff, and all sorts of other madness, before that sublime opening melody returns. This is the highlight of the EP.
Next comes the shortest track, and the weakest in my opinion. Jon states that Time For Myself is "...a reconnection with my energy and humour." Whist I'd agree with the energy, I'm not so sure about the humour, as this track displays the other stylistic side of Feed Me - it's far less melodic, and far more gritty. I personally prefer the former, but that's just a matter of personal taste. It's still a well crafted track, and the bass does indeed hit hard, in a similar fashion to tracks like Gravel (which, by the way, I actually love). But although it's not a bad track, it's certainly not the EP's strongest.
Alarm Clock is up next, and this one sees Feed Me stray out of his comfort zone slightly for the first time on this release. Indeed, Jon describes it as "...a stride into new territory and a reminder of why I love what I do." And this time, I'd certainly agree with him. Though by no means unusual, vocals are not an especially common occurrence in a Feed Me track - only a third of the tracks on Calamari Tuesday, for example, contain vocals of some description. Following some clever rhythmic synth work (no matter how hard I try, I can't find the beat in that opening, the kick always catches me out when it enters) and a driving, glitchy drop, the track cools right down into a far more restrained and melodic passage, where dreamy vocals are added into the equation. It works really well - it's almost like two tracks have been combined, a structural trick that Jon seems to like as he's used it before (in Fiasco, for example, a slow piano and choral section seemingly comes from nowhere halfway through). And it then returns to the opening material. Alarm Clock is another winner.
The final track, Without Gravity, is described as Jon "...being comfortable in [his] own skin again." And it certainly feels that way. It's somewhat more restrained than the three tracks that have preceded it, and stylistically feels the furthest removed from what we're used to with Feed Me. An addictive chord sequence underpins this whole track. It slowly builds up, before we take a breath. No really, there is an actual, audible intake of breath. Genius. Little touches like that are what make Jon's work stand out. And then we're taken on a journey of bass wobbles, dreamy chords, thumping percussion, and the occasional growl. It feels like a great comedown, and it's a fantastic way to end an excellent EP.
I said near the beginning that Feed Me's Pschedelic Journey wasn't as innovative as some of his other releases. Perhaps that wasn't entirely fair, as the whole concept for the EP is indeed a journey of self, a progression from start to finish, and this is very audible, as we strive ever further from safe territory throughout. But I do maintain that this isn't his strongest release - the stand out track for me is also the one of the safest, perhaps an indication that a little more journeying has to happen before his new ideas can be fully appreciated. What I can say, however, is that I appreciate Psychedelic Journey a lot more following repeated listens. I understand it more now, and get a lot more out of it. It's not Jon's most easily accessible release, but it is perhaps one of the most rewarding, and has me excited to see what's coming next.
The Octopus' Verdict: 6/8
Release Details:
Name: Feed Me's Psychedelic Journey
Artist: Feed Me
Label: Sotto Voce
Release Date: 11 July [OUT NOW]
Purchase: iTunes, Beatport
Writer, musician, and all-round top guy. I set up Excited Octopus. Currently, I'm on a one man team. It gets lonely sometimes. But I don't mind, because I love you all.
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