The Ouroboros, which is the icon either as a snake or a dragon, eating its own tail. It shows a sign to view the brutality of nature. Others think of it as a gnostic disposition to symbolise the duality of both the divine and earthly visions in mankind. And that’s what makes the world of Goat’s music even better. They take it a step further to prove themselves how far they’ve come for nearly 13 years.
This band not only had their music featured in Shane Meadows’ (Twenty-Four Seven, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, and This Is England) three-episode series The Gallows Pole last year, followed by the third season five years ago on the British motoring television series The Grand Tour, and the indie British horror film Double Date, Goat doesn’t back down without a fight.
Their sixth sole self-titled album is a massive gem to find at the right place, at the right time. Listening to their follow-up to Medicine, you get a sense that they are having a ball, combining the essence of tropicalia, hard rock, trip-hop, ‘70s glam, and insane psychedelic tablets, they’ve listed all of the ingredients to give listeners, a magnificent trip with enduring centrepieces that’ll make you want to get in and jump into the world of Goat’s music.
From the Os Mutantes-like train-chugging riffs of ‘Goatbrain’ to a combination between early Santana having a jam session with the Tanx-era of T. Rex for the ‘Dollar Bill’ with its wah-wah power, Goat slithers menacingly like a venomous snake, waiting to eat its next prey. They get down to business when it comes down to the funk-rock and massive powers that come bursting out of the Swedish volcano, waiting to see what the mysterious group have in store for us.
‘Zombie’ delves deeper into the deep dub and trip-hop orientation that speaks of the source material the band search into the milk crates of Andy Votel’s Finders Keepers record label, paying homage to the DJ himself with his obscure history by finding unsung gems while ‘Fool’s Journey’ takes us deeper into the world of the land from the rising sun with flutes, percussion, and meditated guidance.
Years later, these guys really know to have a ball and get down to business when it comes to making incredible music that is out of this world. And we need a band like Goat who can push you into the abyss.
