More about: Tame ImpalaPondGUMJay Watson

Close your eyes and dream of the 60s. Now, drop in the otherworldly sounds of the synthesiser and you’ve got the latest effort from Jay Watson under his GUM moniker, Out In The World. 

Watson, who is also known for his mantle within the psych rock giants, Tame Impala and Pond, has coalesced the sounds of both groups to create a cyclic, Catherine-wheel of an album that would hold a better stance as being dubbed an experience. Although, Out In The World is seemingly an effigy of Tame Impala — a model of its subject but stoned and without any kick. Let’s just say that none of the lyrics would look out of place coming from Kevin Parker’s mouth. 

Despite this, the album upholds charm and grandeur. The beauty of the record resides in its evergreen quality. Beginning listening in the middle of the album makes as much sense as starting from the first track. Each song blending seamlessly into one another imitates the illusion of eternity, the perfect soundtrack for a spot of astral projecting. 

Opener ‘Weightless In L.A.’ pinpoints the album’s ethereal location; it is effervescent and heaven-bound. Following this dreamscape, kicky second track ‘Airwalkin’’ adds a robotic and futuristic twist. 

Watson boasts an ability to dip between modern and nostalgic, balancing gentle tracks reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s Relics with bold sci-fi gurgles. The album’s title track, ‘Down The Dream’ and ‘Many Tears To Cry’, fulfil the role of a time-machine, depositing the album in the late 60s. Soft, reverb-laden vocals create a soft bed for sleepy acoustic arpeggios and yawns of an electric guitar. A dreamboat and utopian reflection in one, Out In The World ticks the boxes for mindless, easy listening, but it just seems all too convenient. 

Out In The World is released on 12 June 2020 via Spinning Top Records. 

More about: Tame ImpalaPondGUMJay Watson