Photo by Kyle Thomas
Okay, so maybe the whole world didn’t come together and thank the resident garage rock God for dropping a new tune. In fact, I think it was an equal split between guffaws with jaws dropping and “Who?” with a side of “Meh.” For those not in the latter camp, this is indeed good news.
“Alta” is a track Segall and his Freedom Band, which includes Emmett Kelly (guitar, vocals), Mikal Cronin (bass, vocals), Charles Moothart (drums) and Ben Boye (keyboards), have been playing live over the last year of shows and finally committed to tape back in the spring with Steve Albini at his Electrical Audio studio in Chicago. According to Drag City, here’s what the track is about:
It’s a nature jam as well – basically a “fuck-the-last-500-years” jam, which shows just how far back Ty‘s willing to go to get really back to nature. It’s a love song to the natural state of hometown grounds – and to convey the feelings, a wistful electric piano lick is ridden out on some crazy guitar horses and Ty’s heartstruck vocal.
The electric piano does add a bit of whimsy to the usual Segall crunch, and this song does indeed crunch. After that initial intro the band kicks in like a caffeine drip mainlined into a vein and they swing and sway like Crazy Horse in their prime. If you’re familiar with the Ty Segall formula, this song will feel like putting on that old, scruffy sweater you love so much on the first chilly fall day. Warm and fuzzies.
I’m slowly coming around to Segall. I never thought much of the lad in the early days, but in 2014 after hearing an interview he did with Marc Maron I had a change of heart. I bought Manipulator and things changed from there. Twins was next and that blew my mind. I may not fall for everything, but I’m definitely in the Segall camp now. “Alta” is a reminder why that is.
Complex Distractions 
I’ve grown to like Ty a lot as well. Manipulator really sold me. He can go off the chart on weirdness, and lose people. I usually enjoy that, personally. I understand why he’s not everyone’s cup of tea though. One thing I noticed this past year that annoys me a bit is that everyone he produces sort of sounds just like him. I’d love to see him work with someone wildly different stylistically.
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I think initially that was my problem with Ty. His records just sounded the same to me. One or two songs and I was good. I’ve come to appreciate an album’s worth over the last couple years. And yeah, I’d love to hear him step out of his comfort zone and produce someone not in his wheelhouse.
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I’m a bit uncommitted about him, I think he’s a driven talented man and I’ve seen him play with Fuzz twice now but I do find his stuff a little samey – don’t get me wrong I think it’s a really really good same, but it doesn’t vary enough for me.
A fan friend of mine leant me absolutely everything he’s put out, via a memory stick last year, it’s possibly doubled in size since then!
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I’m sure it has doubled since then.
If you haven’t dug into ‘Manipulator’ I’d say you should. That’s the one that turned me around on his albums. I don’t dig everything, but there’s a couple I quite like nowadays.
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There were a couple of singles compilations that I liked, Manipulator was good and so was Twins.
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I think singles compilations might be the way to go, really. A whittled down sampler platter of Segall music.
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This is all news to me! Cool!
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Pretty nifty tune.
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He’s a productive lad, eh? I’ve liked what I’ve heard – mostly wee bits and pieces plus yin Mugger album. Manipulator’s on my list. Guy has a lot to sift through!
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I think Manipulator is his most realized album. Just solid all the way thru.
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