An energetic record, Three Bells from the wildly prolific Ty Segall restarts the musician's mojo. The Drag City release finds Segall offering up some of this best work in years. For those of us who came in near the release of Manipulator, lots of this new one will feel familiar. It's also expansive in a way that should broaden Segall's reach even more.
The tinkling hooks of "Void anchor the first big number here, with an ode to his wife (Hi Dee Dee") serving the Black Sabbath-ish riffs of another highlight on this one. Denée Segall is a contributor here too, with her efforts essential to the success of "Eggman", an earlier single included on Three Bells officially. Elsewhere, "My Room" pairs up a strong melodic hook with Ty's squalling guitar. Most of the record, in fact, showcases his axe nearly as much as his voice, making Three Bells fairly strong for those who want the riffs.
Three Bells is a release that scorches. It is full of Segall's fiery guitar, and also a neat summation of so many of the influences that have powered earlier Ty offerings. One can hear here a lot of stuff that Ty's been pursuing for more than a decade, but the material feels more streamlined in some way. That's an odd thing to say about an album built around expansive proto-psychedelic tunes, but this is an easy Ty Segall long-player to sink into. And it's the sort of album that stands on its own as a nice reminder of Ty Segall's power as a musician.
Three Bells by Ty Segall is out today via Drag City.
[Photo: Denée Segall]