One of the alternate realities we’d always hoped to exist in was one in which Les Claypool and Sean Lennon did more than just share poster space (spoiled, I know), but we counted our avant-rock blessings and sufficiently freaked out over the GOASTT + Dinosaur Jr. + Primus lineup last summer. Yesterday, though, we finally woke up in that other dimension we’d been dreaming of. The universe gave us The Claypool Lennon Delirium, and that Delirium suddenly gave us two brand new tracks, a forthcoming full-length, and a summer tour. And what you need to know about it is: holy shit.
Lennon & Claypool
Two masters of the psychedelic in their own right, Claypool and Lennon sound absolutely hallucinatory together. The first freaky track to slither our way is called “Mr. Wright,” and it’s only semi-normal for about four seconds. From there on out, it’s a flurry of descending bells that scurry like ants against Claypool’s “Taxman”ish bassline, matched with the finest articulation of “creepin’, creepin’, creepin’, creepin’” you’ve ever heard. Admittedly, we should be less aroused and more terrified by lines like, “he sets up little cameras cause he likes to watch her pee,” but we’re already in dangerous territory, because everything these two do together just sounds sexy.
“Sean is a musical mutant after my own heart,” said Claypool of the collaboration. “He definitely reflects his genetics – not just the sensibilities of his dad, but also the abstract perspective and unique approach of his mother. It makes for a glorious freak stew.” A glorious freak stew is also a good way to describe what they cooked up for us on their second new track. Radio single “Cricket and the Genie (Movement I, The Delirium)” holds the same vintage rock appeal as the first and even grooves a little heavier, merging syncopated time-changes straight out of the 60s with a deceptive, unraveling bassline. Swimming in the spooky vibes, Lennon coolly eases his voice up and over lines like “In this little magic bottle that’s filled with looooove” in a way that would make another Lennon proud.
The Claypool Lennon Delirium will release their first full-length album on June 3rd and hit the road on tour a day later. The album’s astronomical name, Monolith of Phobos, sounds a bit like something Stanley Kubrick might brood over on a late night, and is actually inspired by a large rock on Mars’ Phobos moon. You can check out the track listing and tour dates below.
TRACK LISTING
The Monolith of Phobos
Cricket And The Genie (Movement I, The Delirium)
Cricket And The Genie (Movement II, Oratorio Di Cricket)
Mr. Wright
Boomerang Baby
Breath of a Salesman
Captain Lariat
Ohmerica
Oxycontin Girl
Bubbles Burst
There’s No Underwear In Space
TOUR DATES
6/4 – Orlando, FL – The Beacham
6/5 – Tampa, FL – The Ritz
6/7 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre
6/9 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre
6/10 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel
6/11 – Manchester, TN – Bonnaroo
6/12 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
6/14 – Kansas City, MO – Crossroads
6/15 – Minneapolis, MN – Skyway Theatre
6/17 – Garrettsville, OH – Nelson Ledges Quarry Park
6/18 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre
721 – Seattle, WA -Showbox SODO
7/22 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Pavilion
7/23 – Portland, OR – Roseland Ballroom
7/25 – Jackson Hole, WY – Pink Garter Theatre
7/26 – Missoula, MT – Wilma Theatre
7/27 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
7/29 – Los Angeles, CA – Fonda Theatre
7/30 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
7/31 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
8/2 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
8/3 – San Diego, CA – Observatory North Park
8/4 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theatre
8/5 – 8/7 – Buena Vista, CO – Vertex Festival
8/9 – Iowa City, IA – Englert Theatre
8/11 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theatre
8/12 – Columbus, OH – Express Live! Indoor Pavilion
8/13 – Scranton, PA – Peach Fest
8/26 – Boston, MA – HOB Boston
8/27 – New Haven, CT – College Street Music Hall
8/28 – Portland, ME – State Theatre
8/30 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza
8/31 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore
9/1 – Washington DC – 9:30 Club
Article: Olivia Isenhart
