Black Lips

Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art? VICE. CD/DL/LP

Strong ninth album of kaleidoscopic punk merriment.

That Black Lips have been releasing records for 15 years seems incredible, given their source material is largely gleaned from that brief spell in the 1960s when garage rock segued into psychedelia. Produced by Sean Lennon, featuring Yoko Ono and Fat White Family’s Saul Adamczewski, and with saxophonist Zumi Rosow adding a new lush layer of sound to the ragged punk rush, their ninth studio album is simultaneously more cosmic and conceptual than earlier efforts. Book-ended by an Overture and a Finale and interrupted by bongo interludes, it is something of a journey. Got Me All Alone might offer standard sleazeblues but We Know is built on a glorious swirl of id-destroying organ, Lucid Nightmare is Beefheartian in its wonkiness and Wayne goes higher than The 13th Floor Elevators, before It Won’t Be Long finds Black Lips firmly back in their distinct dweebpunk territory.