There are any number of ways to approach the history of rock and roll. Some see it as territory already covered, with no need to return to older styles, and some see it as an ongoing development, with the act of listening to old records being something akin to reading old journals. The interpretation with the most potential for fun, however, is to see the rock and roll past as a playground, which is clearly the preferred perspective of Radio Moscow, an Iowan band consisting of multi-instrumentalist Parker Griggs, along with bassist Billy Ellsworth and live drummer Lonnie Blanton. Though Griggs handles much of the recording himself, the obvious sonic template is the power trios of late-stage psychedelia from the late-60's/early-70's. It would be easy to make a bad record this way, in fact the most likely outcome would be to make an album that had the same effect as a bad cover band, where the effort to comply with vintage standards simply made the listener pine for the real thing. Radio Moscow slips through this trap by making a record that sounds dated in the best way, combining vintage sounds and tones with a little extra juice from the modern stoner rock movement, all the while displaying an inexhaustible and unironic love of fuzzy, propulsive psychedelia.
As you might expect, Radio Moscow puts a premium on instrumental prowess, especially the guitar work, which is so good that it probably counts as porn for any guitarists in the audience. Their newest release, The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz, is no exception to this, as instrumental virtuosity abounds. Luckily the band has the sense to keep the heroics subservient to the groove. The sound is definitely psychedelic, but rarely jammy; even when the guitars are aiming to blow your mind, the rhythm section keeps you nodding your head.
Radio Moscow's earlier records, a self-title debut and the sophomore release Brain Cycles, are both excellent records in their own rights, but The Great Escape... offers a broader sonic palette, with fuzzed-out rockers sharing space with acoustic slide blues and even tribal rhythm workouts like "Densaflorativa." In the end, Parker Griggs may be another in a legion of Hendrix worshippers, but he's certainly one of the best. For all the serious guitar mojo on The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz, it remains an extremely listenable and, most importantly, fun record.
-Review by TZARATHUSTRA
