Psychedelic garage-rock of sorts from a group that seems to be a part Memphis' next wave of bands along with names you may have heard mention of like The Barbaras and Boston Chinks. A lengthy six-song 12" that contains what could be one of the years' best tunes in "CIA", an amazing forward moving rocker that nearly seems out of place next to the rest of the tunes, which veer from the very Bowie-ish space rock of "Caspain Sea", to the VU/Modern Lovers-like pop influenced "White Devils" (except for the trippy jam-out segment). Easily likeable and sometimes Burma-esque indie-rocking that doesn't get too lazy on the tempo, with the mushrooms on the cover hinting at some palatable psych/Syd-like tendencies (but not like dirty patchouli smelling Dead-like hippie-isms, know what I mean?). Slap this on the turntable on a Sunday afternoon backed with Goodnight Loving and your hangover's practically gone. Garage-folk is go! Really though, this is a fantastic release...Scum stats: I think there were a hundred or so on colored vinyl, but the black ones should get you just as high.

(Rich Kroneiss - Termnal Boredom - Feb. 2007)

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I discovered this band on my trip to Memphis this year to visit the city and the infamous Gonerfest. I was in Memphis a couple of days before the start of the festivities and the day after my arrival I learned that Viva l'American Death Ray Music were playing in some place called The Buccaneer that evening. Arriving at the venue, which turned out to be a very nice little bar, I found out this other, local band was also playing. The band was Kazalok and I feared the worst actually. Upon asking some locals about it I got the "they're some guys from around here" response so I was still pretty mystified when Kazalok started their set. A set that turned out to be great! A bunch of very young guys, of which I recognized one as Billy, the drummer for the Knaughty Knights on their Eurotour. Very haunting and inspired music, garage, a bit folkish stuff a bit in the vein of The Deadly Snakes maybe. Very well performed and leaving me wanting more… a release maybe? And so about a month after my return to bloody Belgium my wishes are granted with the release of this 6-song mini LP. Six great songs actually containing a variation of style from more indiepop/folk/psych pieces like "Caspian Sea" to the straight up punker "CIA" and überhit "Summertime Work Song". With bands like Kazalok, The Boston Chinks and The Barbaras we might be looking at a whole "next generation" of great Memphis bands.

(sAm - Batarang! webzine - Jan. 2007)

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I have a very limited exposure to what would be called "indie rock" these days, by choice of course. When most of the rest of my peer group was worshipping at the altars of Uniform Choice, Doom, Heresy and Crimpshrine, I was supping at the humble table set by the likes of the Datapanik/Anyway, Bag of Hammers, and Blackjack labels, with a healthy side of Drag City and Siltbreeze. I figured about six or so years ago that, with funds limited and my attention span shortening by the week, I would mostly stick to punker-type stuff, and the 7” especially. Thus I stopped following about 98% of what could be considered to be modern "indie."  I have yet to hear the Shins, or Peaches, or Matmos, or that crucial Steven Malkmus solo LP. I haven’t bought a Sonic Youth full length since Goo, but I’ve got a stack of lovely psych-punk moderne to keep me warm in the meantime. But, here we have this Kazalok 12” causing problems. Now I have to hopefully project in my ignorance that this what I hope modern indie rock is capable of these days. Kazalok makes a really great psych-pop groove that freaks out without laying it on thick, pops riffs into your skull without resorting to the jackhammer, and plays a few sonic tricks on you to keep you from guessing what’s next. In the track CIA, they even have a slice of the psych action that I have shallow grave in my heart for - what we used to call in the 90s ‘psych-garage’. I hope this isn’t a one off, I could use some more of this.

(Ryan Wells - The Z Gun webzine - December 2006)

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In spite of the somewhat strange name of this band and the even stranger title of this 12”/ six track lp, the band origins from the States, and the album was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, which is also the location of the band. This is a cool blend of psychedelic garagepunk, some folk-influence and a dark New York sound not unlike Velvet Underground. Kazalok was formed in 2005, but there’s no indication soundwise that they haven’t been around way longer. The guys have managed to find their own sound and expression within this fairly short time. This is indeed a very nice release containing reverse guitar, a scruffy/authentic sound and some really good catchy tunes featuring a cool organ, tambourine, accoustic guitars, strage noices and more. Bonusinfo: Kazalok hold the Guiness World Record for being the second tallest rock band around... I’d like to see that act live!

(Foxy - Lowcut magazine # 40 - December 2006)

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YESSS!!! Memphis' next wave is HERE! Boston Chinks 7" coming on Goner, and KAZALOK on vinyl! Bennett told me it sounded better on vinyl AND HE WASN'T JOKING! "CIA" was a great song I was kinda tired of, and I think the band was, too. NOW IT KICKS MY ASS! GODDAMN! Pretty ridiculous how they go from fast folk-punkish moves to the spacey feel of "Caspian Sea" without sounding like a different band. Young, ambitious, arty and unashamed of it. AUTOHARP! Sloppy, beautiful, free! Somehow I keep thinking the Oscars are responsible for all this. Even Sambeaux likes it!

(Goner Mailorder - November 2006)

 

French

Chez Kazalok, c'est un peu plus compliqué. Remarquez, rien que le nom dejà... et le titre du LP. Blues? Psychédélique? Garage? Hé bé un peu tout ça à la fois, ce qui ne facilite pas la tâche du chroniqueur. Leur bio pointe les influences du Velvet et Syd Barrett, les refrains sont lancinants mais le groupe sait lâcher les chevaux vapeur quand l'envie lui prend de jouer les garagistes bargeots et inspirés tendance Memphis (Billy Hayes des Knaughty Knights les accompagnait sur leurs dernières tournées). Dommage que ce soit trop rare. A aborder avec les précautions d'usage appliquées aux expérimentateurs de tout poil saisis par les psychotropes et la débauche.

(Sylvain Coulon - DIG IT! #39 - Feb. 2007) 

 

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