Words by Lady Godiva

Get in, loser! We’re going on a space cruise over the wild wild west. Ignition slated now and what a lush taking off, a powerful upsurge that feels like summoning demons or dancing with ghosts. Soak in this long brewing magic as if you were free diving. 

Based in Detroit, Moonwalks are Kerrigan Pearce (from the other excellent Detroit-based outfit Shadow Show) on drums, Jacob Dean on guitar and vocals, and Kate Gutwald on bass. The band originated in the DIY  scene, cut their teeth at local warehouses and makeshift venues and recorded their third LP at the iconic Masonic Temple. 

Rumour has it the place is haunted and at times it feels some spirits infiltrated the recordings, there’s a spectral aura lingering out of some tracks. 

Written over a period of time where the band was isolated and almost left to their own devices in a brutal Michigan winter, Western Mystery Tradition manifests great symbiosis in the face of adversity, the three piece sounds more mature than on their first two efforts. With this new release, they have absorbed decades of music to carve out a kinetic gallery of psychedelic garage tunes permeated with psychic awareness. 

“War on Nothing” ostensibly stirs up the pace, bringing a catchy invitation to the ride with much fervor, emphasized by Jacob Dean’s strong and sexily husky vocals. Beyond its raw energy, this song carries a message whose meaning can be versatile, especially in a post pandemic world.

 “Natural Possession” conjures up western spirits with its tribal whispers, giving the album title full resonance. The tune is aptly named as one may feel a halo softly take over them, it gives sweet chills. The next track “Cherry Shade” fits perfectly into the former one with a meditative intro that spreads darker forces into the spectrum. “Jodi’s Shoes” is a kind of Krautrock number  with distinctive guitars that sound like a ghost train. There is a more mystic realm underlying throughout the album and one can connect the dots paying attention to signals. 

“Outer Limits” literally kicks out the jams (Detroit style… If you know, you know…) with a tidal wave of raw energy crammed half-way through the record and unveiled bluntly, increasing the power tenfold. 

“Joy of Geraniums” makes a stark contrast with its mellowness and dreamlike lap steel, bringing out a more solar and soothing side to these spiritual wanderings.  In lieu of geraniums, glimpses of the desert, cacti and breathtaking sunsets spring to mind.

“Cream of the Country” might be the most tender song on Western Mystery Tradition, it unveils more of Jacob Dean’s exquisite vocal range, reminiscent of Iggy Pop‘s own vocal signature, especially when the word dog is uttered, perhaps a veiled reference to the iconic song from the Stooges debut. Is the cream of the country the Michigan born legend? Intended or not, it is a beautiful earthy melody that pulls at your heartstrings. 

“Heavy Tears” is a magnificent finale that reconciles light and darkness, crammed in the strong metaphor kerosene sunlight. A passage between the astral and the physical realm, it ends the record on a highly karmic note, leaving you craving another ride of deep connection with the spirit world, navigating through the ethership of Western Mystery Tradition. 

Western Mystery Tradition was released 26 May 2023 on Fuzz Club Records