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ALBUM REVIEW: "Flying Microtonal Banana" by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

   The latest release from the incredibly prolific King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard is Flying Microtonal Banana, and it is a continuation of the band's pursuit of freakish perfection and obsessiveness. Like the rest of their catalogue, Flying Microtonal Banana (reportedly the first of five King Gizzard records to be released in 2017) is governed by a motif, being the product of a guitar acquired by Stu Mackenzie, modified for microtonal tuning that allows for intervals smaller than the standard semitones that govern western music. This obviously lends to the album an instantly recognisable tonality that both takes a minute to get used to and quickly became one of the most enjoyable aspects of a really engaging and fun album.
   The dark, murky mix of garage rock, punk and psych rock that made Nonagon Infinity so good is still there, but it seems more refined and snappy, more fully realised and ultimately more memorable. There are riffs that stay stuck in your head, and I'm not entirely sure if it's because of the weird tonalities of the tunings or otherwise, but it really does't matter at all because by that stage you're already pulled right in.
   Flying Microtonal Banana is a definite highlight in the band's rapidly expanding discography, and is a firm step into uncharted territory while keeping the other foot firmly planted in what made them great in the first place.

   Favourite Songs: Rattlesnake, Sleep Drifter and Nuclear Fusion

    Least Favourite Song: Anoxia

   Rating: B+

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