Dmitry Wild – Electric Souls

By RingMaster Review on December 10, 2022 • ( 0 )

Offering up a collection of tracks which keenly sizzled on the imagination, Electric Souls is the recently released new album from New York garage rocker DMITRY WILD. With his established blend of 70’s vintage rock, garage rock and post-punk inclinations it was always going to be a widely styled proposition but any expectations were soon pushed away with the lively diversity of the release.

Like so many, it was a record partially written during the unwanted calm and anxiety of pandemic lockdowns, tracks nestling happily alongside songs dating back to when Wild lived in California. You can only assume that time frame has added to its eclectic nature of the record, a set of tracks which effortlessly sit alongside each other in one fluid and rousing slab of rock ‘n’ roll.

Electric Souls opens with the superb 21st century, a track surveying the plight of the world which straight away forged our favourite moment within the release. A sonic sweep brings the song’s firm stroll into view and an atmosphere of sound which is sinister in its breath. Like an otherworldly view from the shadows, the track shares a tenebrific perspective to explore but one with a celebratory air within its dark rock/post punk nurtured presence with the guesting drums of Byron Frayne and the slide guitar of Ruby La Rue (Dust Bowl Fairies) bringing further intimation and richness to the outstanding track.

Bringing a psych rock steeped proposal with it, Sweetest Thing follows. Psych shimmers immediately oscillate across the senses before the track launches into a robust energy driven stomp driven by the rapacious rhythms of drummer Matt Liptak who shares his prowess across the majority of the album’s tracks. With essences echoing the likes of THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN and BIRDLAND, the track is a rousing incitement already revealing that variety within Electric Souls.

Liberation Woes is next up, an acoustically set contemplation as melodically suggestive as Wild’s tones and words. Evocative and touching, indeed a haunting piece of musical poetry, the song captivated before Liberation featuring the vocals of Tryst cast its garage punk scorched uproar. Deliberate in its gait, fiery in its breath and intent, the track stood defiant in voice and tall in impact.

The pop rock bound Don’t Need Anybody swings in next, a slice of infection loaded rock ‘n’ roll which soon manipulated body and voice in joining its inspiriting incitement, an inescapable involvement just as hungrily evoked by successor, Summer of 21, a garage rock saunter with the feral essence of IGGY POP and the flirtatious swing of ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT, both adding new peaks to the album’s lofty landscape.

Across the melodically evocative romance of Castle Walls, the keys of Peter Breed returning after also guesting in the second track, and the quickly riveting God, Ghost and a Ship, the album only expanded its diversity; the first drawing upon melodic rock seeds and the second gypsy punk/folk essences. The second is another major favourite from the release, the accordion and saw of Ryder Cooley (Dust Bowl Fairies) adding greater atmosphere and suggestive colour to the track and kinship with Wild’s rich narrative.

The acoustic rock instincts of Wizard provided a lively base to its country rock exploits, the song drawing on greater energy and enterprise by the minute to light up ears ready for the poignant breath and lyrical musing of Small Affliction. A song also embracing psych rock hues but merging them with eighties synth rock and pop fertility it provides a captivating close to the release alongside its Houses in Motion Remix which finally completes the album, that eighties and electronic inspiration given greater head and space to weave its own individual story.

Electric Souls is a release which went beyond the potential of its lead singles to, as we say, leave expectations awry of its richly adventurous and enjoyable proposal. It is a slab of varied rock with something for most appetites to find pleasure in.

Electric Souls is out now; available @ https://dmitrywild.bandcamp.com/album/electric-souls