by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
It’s barely been a year since Portland’s garage punk staples Woolen Men released their last full length Post, an album we’re still consistently keeping in rotation. There’s no rest for the weary they say and I suppose there’s no rest for Woolen Men either. The trio are set to release Human to Human, a new full length on November 22nd via Dog’s Table, their own homegrown record label. The eight song album deepens their affinity for Americana fried post-punk, awash with blown out guitars and burnt front-porch jangle. There’s a balance of dark and light, focus and chaos, familiar melodies and motorik rhythms that veer between human and alien.
The record’s first single and opening track “Mexico City Blues” sets the tone with a warm dissonance and a hypnotic bass groove, the drums skittering freely within the time. The vocals hit with the impact of a city bus, not so much in intensity (they’re very chill) but their presence is radiant, wandering over the rolling fuzz and reverberating distortion with a casual resolve. This is an album introduction done right, it’s a bit dark and mysterious but as inviting as they come, the guitars rusty scrape adding grit to the otherwise unshakable beat. These are freaky times we’re living in, let yourself unwind together with Woolen Men.