The concept of being transported somewhere else sounds stellar right about now. In times both good and bad, stoked or sad, we turn to art in all its forms. In this excellent case, we look backwards to give ourselves a vision of the future. Stay with me now; I know what that sounds like but fear not. WUCAN offer up a technicolor, high-flying landscape of retro hard rock (with flutes!) that will appease anyone who grew up with vibrant vinyl sleeves laying around. Think Jethro Tull, Uriah Heap, Styx, or even the bluesier aspects of Black Sabbath, with echoes of krautrock and a real surreal streak. Far from simply a throwback exercise, Axioms feels as alive as anything else around right now, though the group almost ended, as vocalist Francis Tobolsky shares:
“To be honest, we had a big conflict two years ago in which we allowed people from outside the band to sneak in and spread discord. There were unspoken issues which came to light. We all feared the band was going to end, no joke. It was only the music that kept us together at the time because we all believed in the potential of the project and in each other, really. (The bonus track reflects on that situation.) We definitely are/were a cohesive unit, but being in a band really is like a marriage—it’s constant ‘work,’ and there’s ups and downs. Our curiosity hasn’t faded one bit, and there’s so much more music we want to explore and play. That, besides the years of being together and having become close friends, is what keeps us keeping on. The silver lining is our current situation: We are still around. In our true form. Because we stick to our values. Axioms make the man.”
Axioms is out now, and you can order it from Long Branch Records. Follow WUCAN on Facebook and Instagram for future updates.
Photo courtesy of WUCAN
