REQUIEM by Goat
Genre: Psychedelia, Instrumental
Favorite Tracks: “Psychedelic Lover,” “It’s Not Me,” “Goodbye”
GOAT is an enigmatic group of anonymous individuals from Sweden who create tribal sounding instrumental music that embodies the ritualistic aspect of their creative output. There’s a sense of organic creative vision that makes it very easy to get lost in the soundwaves. Goat creates a direct bond between the music and the listener, hence their hidden identities. REQUIEM, their latest double album, is a lively ensemble of acoustic instruments and uplifting sing-song material that creates a beautiful piece of black magic.
The album is embedded with a sense of curiosity and mysticism that so many musicians strive to create, but that appears to come naturally to the artists of Goat. “It’s Not Me” is a beautiful, meditative musical piece that I struggle to find words for. Part of this is because I can’t accurately describe the instruments and sounds that I’m hearing, but it’s also because it’s just so sensational. I am intrigued by something that can feel so foreign, yet resound in waves of warmth and happiness. I believe that we are living in a beautiful time of musical experimentation and innovation that pushes creativity to new levels. Unfortunately, these are the moments where, if at all, Goat is lacking.
Despite being a double album (some tracks running around eight minutes), the listening experience seems somewhat brief. REQUIEM moves at a swift pace and stays both entrancing and striking throughout. On “Goatband,” Psychedelic guitar riffs combine with jagged saxophones to lead the listener through the first seven or eight minutes of the track, and the last 40 seconds disturb you and prepare you for the inspiring yet intimidating female vocals of the following track. The album sounds foreign, but from no specific place of origin. It at times can feel tropical, at times desolate. Much of the beauty in REQUIEM comes from its ability to carry the listener along from start to finish while staying both unpredictable and cohesive.
I hate to use the word lacking, because I usually see music in two different lights. There are artists who aim for ingenuity and to create great music, and thereby become commercial, and there are artists who shoot to hit commercial audiences with pop-sounding records. Goat is definitely the former, and they’ve come to enjoy quite a bit of success all the same. However, REQUIEM lacks the catchiness that is sure to attract a wide audience. You will likely never hear a person humming a song from this album, and recognize it. Whether this is a good or a bad thing is entirely up to you and how you look at music, but it is surely a factor in how we must look at the music and at what the artist is trying to do. I see it as a detriment, because although I enjoy the record so much, it lacks something concrete to latch on to; something that music with lyrics and hooks should try to offer us first and foremost. REQUIEM is certainly more of a stream of consciousness endeavor than a new hit record, but I think that’s what Goat was going for.
REQUIEM does not shout, yell. It is not loud. It festers and it echoes. It calls from a distance. Then, it sings. It dances. I believe the artists responsible for it strive to create something transcendental, with longevity, as opposed to something ephemeral. It takes a certain type artist to make that choice, as well as to collectively decide to keep their public identities a secret. It speaks to the authenticity and vision of Goat as a collective, and one cannot help but appreciate and respect what they’ve come to cultivate on REQUIEM. It’s an album that likely not many will hear, but it will influence the world of art for generations to come on levels that only time will make apparent.
Verdict: Recommend
Parker Hutcheson
Parker Hutcheson is a writer and aspiring director from Fresno. Growing up, Parker had a pet wolf whom he had to set free into the wild, where he quickly found a pack to run with. He loved the wolf very much, and hopes you enjoy his articles.
