The Murlocs Announce New Album ‘Calm Ya Farm’
Out May 19th via ATO Records.
In the world of music, evolution is inevitable. For some artists, it's about pushing boundaries and experimenting with new sounds. For others, it's about embracing their roots and exploring new genres. This is the case for The Murlocs’ 2023 album Calm Ya Farm. After the release of their 2022 garage-psych opus ‘Rapscallion’ The Murlocs are expanding their sonic-scape by creating a quintessential country-rock record. Drawing inspiration from the British mid-’70s pub-rock scene and Sweetheart of the Rodeo by the Byrds, The Murlocs infuse their influences with their own signature sound.
Initiative, is the vibrant lead single from the record. Ambrose Kenny-Smith’s lyrics are both introspective and relatable, as he sings about the challenges of adulting while still holding onto the spirit of youth.
“It’s about recognising the need to start taking responsibility for your life instead of always living in the now and killing all your brain cells along the way. Not everyone wants the big family and the big house with the white picket fence. Everything happens for a reason and sometimes you need to take things more seriously and make a few power moves in life to find out what comes next in the crystal ball”
As The Murloc’s most synergetic work to date, Calm Ya Farm unfurls in more embellished and enhanced arrangements and accomplishes new sonic depths mostly by ensuring space for all five members to pursue their most eccentric audio impulses. The album tracks have been polished off by producer / mix engineer and repeat collaborator, John Lee at the band’s home studio.
“With this record we tried to steer away from all the distortion and dirt and grit, or at least let the grit come off a bit more clean-sounding,” says Kenny-Smith. Over the course of its 12 wildly catchy tracks, ‘Calm Ya Farm’ touches on everything from the wicked tone of politics to the brain-muddling impact of conspiracy theories, decorated with such unexpected flourishes as lush flute melodies, dynamic flamenco-guitar riffs, and dreamlike Farfisa tones. The album is a collection of songs that twist country-rock convention into a free-flowing, sun-drenched sound that's fully in touch with the frenetic energy of modern life.
While ‘Calm Ya Farm’ contains plenty of feverish tension, the album quickly reveals its capability to soothe its listener into a calmer state of mind. Making the perfect fit for the album’s title which Kenny-Smith explains is “something my partner always says to me when I’m feeling stressed-out or anxious. It made sense with the whole country theme of the record, but it’s generally a good reminder for day-to-day life. Now whenever I look down, I can remember to just chill out and take everything a little easier.” The Murlocs are made up of: Matt Blach (drums, vocals), Cook Craig (bass guitar), Tim Karmouche (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Ambrose Kenny-Smith (vocals, harmonica, guitar) and Cal Shortal (guitar).
Calm Ya Farm tracklisting:
1. Initiative
2. Common Sense Civilian
3. Russian Roulette
4. Superstitious Insights
5. Centennial Perspective
6. Queen Pinky
7. Undone And Unashamed
8. Captain Cotton Mouth
9. Catfish
10. Smithereens
11. Forbidden Toad
12. Aletophyte
You can pre-order Calm Ya Farm here