Larman Clamor - Frogs (2012)

Astute observers of the rock will recognize Alexander von Wiedings name as the artist behind album covers for the likes of Monster Magnet, Karma to Burn, Wo-Fat, and countless others. Over the last several years, the German illustrator has contributed art to Small Stone releases from Freedom Hawk, Tia Carrera, Infernal Overdrive, Sun Gods in Exile, Sasquatch, Gozu and many more. With the second album from von Wiedings musical solo-project, Larman Clamor, put out by Small Stone, that relationship grows even deeper. Frogs follows 2011s self-titled EP and Altars to Turn Blood, both self-released, and refines Larman Clamors swampy psychedelic blues to its greatest execution yet. Taking blown-out influence from the likes of Mississippi Fred McDowell and boogie stomp from John Lee Hooker (see the opening title-track, Frogs), von Wieding pulls off an atmosphere coated in humidity and rife with mosquitoes, toe-tapping his way to a throaty-delivered oblivion. A track like the slow-grooving, mellow-fuzzed Mill Wheel Alchemycomes straight off of an algae-covered porch, and others like the riotous Mudhole Stomp or more rock-derived Black Cylinder short and sparse compared to a lot of todays amp-wall overload feel born of some alternate reality Delta. But Larman Clamors songs are catchy and memorable. Von Wiedings guitar pulsates with a raw distorted tone that perfectly suits his old-road gravel vocals and a countrified sense of foreboding is never far off. Theres something dangerous about this music.