by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Pelican Movement don’t play by any industry rules. Hell, they’re not playing by seemingly anyone’s rules. The collective led by Marcata Recording’s Kevin McMahon released their debut album back in 2014, and aside from a split single with Battle Ave the following year, have been quiet on the recording side ever since. It’s not that they’ve been inactive, the band have done some regional touring, including a handful of dates with Pile back in 2019 and McMahon has built an impressive resume as a go-to producer/engineer for artists like Widowspeak, Real Estate, Swans, Titus Andronicus, and the aforementioned Pile. With a keen ear for nuance and studio experimentation, it’s in that mindset that the band’s new album, Fistful of Ivy, lives, a record comprised of a single 37 minute piece of music, that’s both well composed and loosely played.
The album itself, out today (April 1st) via Feeding Tube Records (Myriam Gendron, The Lentils, Frank Hurricane) and Marcata Recording, is both a massive undertaking and a rewarding listen. Little can prepare you. Trying to describe it feels futile. Fistful of Ivy rarely stays in one place for too long. There’s spaced out psych (both acoustic and very electric) that recalls Pink Floyd in their adventurous early days. There’s moments of bluesy rock, animated prog, and heaps of momentary crescendos that crash like tidal waves and ebb just as quickly. There are stretches of sneering punk. The occasional moment of no-wave. There is no stone left unturned, and it’s all strung together into something impossibly cohesive, a massive achievement that rests on McMahon’s ability to bring it all together, leading the way at every turn.
The rhythms nearly sound melodic, carrying moments like “Attemptation” and “Escape Your Own Mind,” punctuated by Kris Kuss’ (Pile) drums. Admittedly one of our favorite drummer of all time, Kuss weaves his magic into exquisite bursts, but also sits backs when the band shift toward tripped out meditations and vast stretches of textural psych. There are several great vocal performances courtesy of Izzy Hagerup, Michael DiSanto, and Colleen Kinsella (of Big Blood). Everyone is focused as they wind and traverse an album that defies all odds. With McMahon the mastermind behind it all, his vision is brought triumphantly to life with a 12-piece band, every sweeping instrumental choice felt with great impact. There’s a lot to take in but it’s well worth the trip. A chance to drift away from reality and immerse yourself in the music.