Wax Machine – “River”

On their evolutionary new album, Wax Machine break with the humid, baroque psych that’s been the cornerstone of their past few records for something more delicate. Following the first single, that touched on Lau Ro’s Brazilian roots, the new album is also inspired by a trip back to their home country. “River” centers on water, as the title implies, with a thread of melancholy encircling the song’s soft psychedelic ramble. A much more subtle touch of Tropicália sneaks in this time, but among the patter of rhythms and call and response vocals, there’s also a jazz stain on the piano, giving the track a welcome bit of fusion. There’s quite a bit of the same sadness that soaks into Caetano Veloso’s eponymous, exiled album. Perhaps its a homesickness, or a sense of unmooring, but on “River,” Wax Machine nail the wandering quality of their influence quite nicely. The accompanying video lets the viewer get lost in a sea of animated wonder, creating a backdrop of magic and myth to accompany the song’s sanguine air. The new album, The Sky Unfurls, The Dance Goes On, is out November 3rd from Batov Records.

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