New Video: JOVM Mainstays The Murlocs Share Soulful “Queen Pinky”

Melbourne-based psych punks and JOVM mainstays The Murlocs — King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard‘s Ambrose Kenny-Smith (vocals, guitar, harmonica) and The Orb‘s Callum Shortal (guitar), Beans‘ Matt Blach (drummer), Crepes‘ Tim Karmouche (keys) Pipe-Eye’s and King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard’s Cook Craig (bass) — will be releasing their highly-anticipated sixth album, Calm Ya Farm Friday through their longtime label home ATO Records.

Calm Ya Farm derives its title from “something my partner always says to me when I’m feeling stressed-out or anxious. It made sense with the whole country theme of the record, but it’s generally a good reminder for day to day life,” The Murlocs’ Kenny-Smith explains. Fittingly, the album, which sees the band twisting their sharply crafted psych-punk sound with country rock-conventing and pairing it with pointed commentary on the vicious tone of current political discourse, the brain-addling effect of conspiracy theories, and more. Arguably, their most collaborative effort to date, the album features more elaborate and sophisticated arrangements and sees the band’s individual members creating space to pursue their own eccentric impulses. With this record we tried to steer away from all the distortion and dirt and grit, or at least let the grit come off a bit more clean-sounding,” says Kenny-Smith.

While they still deal with the frenzied tension they’ve long been known for, the album’s material also meant to ease the listener into a much-needed and more serene state of mind. The album’s last single before its release, “Queen Pinky” is built around a funky strut, twinkling keys and Kenny-Smith’s yearning vocal, Calm Ya Farm is slow-burning, Quiet Storm-like take on their sound — and arguably, the most earnest and sincere song of their growing catalog: The song is Kenny-Smith’s sprawling, spacey and heartfelt serenade to his newlywed wife. And as a result, it exudes an enviably deep contentment.

Directed by Hayden Somerville, the accompanying video for “Queen Pinky” sees the members of the JOVM mainstays classing it up, performing the song in suits at a jazz club-like performance space along with an evil Kenny-Smith and good Kenny-Smith

The Murloocs will be embarking on a European tour in the fall. If you’re in any of those cities, buy a ticket and catch them live.

International Tour Dates

9/3: Salisbury, UK @ End of the Road Festival

9/5: London, UK @ Village Underground *

9/7: Deventer, Netherlands @ Burgerweeshuis *

9/8: Heusden Gem Asten, Netherlands @ Misty Fields 

9/9: Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Tolhuistuin *

9/12: Oslo, Norway @ John Dee *

9/13: Stockholm, Sweden @ Slaktkyrkan *

9/14: Malmo, Sweden @ Plan B *

9/16: Leipzig, Germany @ UT Connewitz *

9/17: Cologne, Germany @ Gebäude 9 *

9/18: Hamburg, Germany @ Knust *

9/19: Berlin, Germany @ Hole 44 *

9/21: Paris, France @ Le Trabendo *

9/22: Brussels, Belgium @ AB Box *

* w/ The Prize