SPIRIT MOTHER / MOUNTAIN TAMER

MOJAVE DESERT, CALIFORNIA

Say what you like about this Year Without Shows, but since livestreams became the only way, essentially a classic stoner-psych-fuzz trio with unorthodox, emotional vocals and more melodic and structural nuances than average. However, their warm jams are spun into orbit by violinist Sarah Jane Long, who elevates even a Quo-simple rock-steady gallop to a new artistic and emotional plane. An independent but integrated force, her extraordinary contribution raises the bar celestially high. don’t raise the bar, they stagger into it and bring it crashing down to the primeval dust at their feet. Enjoyably basic, rocking stoner sludge doom like mom used to make (if your mom is Liz Buckingham), the LA caveman trio strike a satisfying balance between loose, feelgood grooves and queasy nightmare vibes.