Back in January, Winsford Trio Deja Vega released their second album ‘Personal hell’. It followed the critically acclaimed self-titled debut in 2019. Although originally recorded before lockdown, their zoom meetings in that time allowed them to redraw their future, would it pay off?
*artwork courtesy of Crooked Cartoon.
Image courtesy of Trust a Fox.
Following a powerful debut album has always been a tricky conundrum. More of the same or to reinvention can ruin all that went before. ‘Personal Hell’ has some brilliant bridge tracks from then to now in ‘Its All Gone Wrong’, Outside Now’, and ‘Who We Are’. ‘It’s All Gone Wrong’, whilst introducing synths, maintains the Mark E Smith vocal menace and Stooges assault of the sense on guitar that everyone fell for on the debut. The synths come at you from every angle like a psychedelic pincer movement as they build the track up, up, and up again before unleashing it back to hell with resounding guitars and a bombardment of drums that no other band can compete within 2022.
‘Outside Now’, is blessed with the spirit of Fontaines D.C. debut has a gloriously windswept feeling to its punk stature, and is destined to be a euphoric set closer for a decade. ‘Who We Are’ has the joyous build of ‘Mr Powder’ but with more space to breathe. The half step back in tempo allows the band to sound like Neu on speed. Throw in the little nods to The Doors’ ‘L.A Woman’ and the life-affirming lyrics and this becomes an instant classic:
“Got the feeling we'll win because we've seen it all / Still scratching our heads and we find it hard to get it / But we take the fall and we erase it all”
More. Cowbell. Please!
On their debut, there was so much punk and psychedelic prowess showcased on the likes of ‘Eyes of Steel’, ‘Mr. Powder’, and ‘Sound of Speed’ that fans were well within their rights to believe mainstage headline slots awaited them. ‘Personal Hell’ doubles down on this thought process and then catapults it out of the galaxy. ‘Slow and Steady’ drops the intensity for an early Verve sense of exploration into the half-light via Soundtracks Of Our Lives’ poetic beauty. ‘Banshee’ introduces rave-esque synths into the equation. Alongside their penchant for garage-psyche it becomes death-defying; an anthem for the downtrodden of 2022 if ever there was one. This is the musical equivalent of nurses stood in minus five degrees begging for their dignity. It will be heard!
Then, if that promise was still in question (it wasn’t) ‘Catharsis’ pops in to mark the 10s psychedelic adventures as redundant. The truth is, the early tens were blessed with good psyche music in Tame Impala, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Pond et al, but not great music. They lacked the ability to inspire. Not Deja Vega! Their blasts of technicolour guitar rain down like Moon Duo records being played by the Pistols. The lyrics are confrontational and recalcitrant and beckon younger generations to pick up a guitar and change lives!
There’s no filler on ‘Personal Hell’, every track leaves an indelible mark on the soul. ‘Precious One’ throbs with 70s debauchery and Wooden Shjips riffs to create yet more new pastures of the kaleidoscopic expedition! On and on the superlatives could go. ‘Personal Hell’ is a huge leap forwards from the debut, and whilst the live shows remain in small(ish) venues, for now, their rightful place is the upper echelons of mainstages. Over to you festival bookers of 2023.