Ambassador Hazy The Traveler
Ambassador Hazy released The Traveler on April 22nd 2022 on Cardinal Fuzz (EU), Hazy House (USA) and Birdman Sound Blog (CA). Available on 12” black vinyl limited to 250 copies and on CD and streaming. Links below.
Ambassador Hazy The Traveler
Ambassador Hazy is the moniker for Sterling DeWeese who has played in Heavy Hands and Terrapin Gun. The Traveler is the second album from Hazy Ambassador and was recorded at Hazy House in 2021, which I assume is a home studio. Sterling DeWeese released his first studio album with Heavy Hands titled Smoke Signals in 2008 from the label Language Of Stone recorded with acid folk legend Greg Weeks. This Heavy Hands album had energized krautrock rhythms, garage rock driving fuzz guitars and a sound that landed the band between CAN and Queens Of The Stone Age. Prior to that he released albums with Dirty Rainbow and Terrapin Gun two very underground rock groups.
DeWeese has been releasing album for over 10 years now and Ambassador Hazy is his first true solo project where he writes all the music and performs and records all the instruments. The first album Glacial Erratics self-released in 2021 was stylistically in-line with Heavy Hands with groove oriented rhythms, garage rock guitar lines and rock vocals with plenty of compression and pre-amping.
Glacial Erratics was the first solo album captured the new creative drive and process where the artist created everything for the album themselves. This is a difficult process with many pieces and variables, a true solo album is a lot of work to accomplish and inevitably many new skills are acquired in the development of the album. The music was excellent on Glacial Erratics with a number of standout songs and performances.
The latest album,The Traveler has Ambassador Hazy presenting better recording and production with a more cohesive mix and arrangements. In that sense alone the vinyl is pumping out higher quality tones and sound mastered by Chris Hardman when compared to Glacial Erratics. The songs on The Traveler are moving closer to the Heavy Hands days embracing krautrock beats, jamming fuzzy guitar solos and leads. The vocals are in the range of singers like Jim Morrison with a male vocal that is baritone to tenor in range. The vocals are pushed as one would expect in rock music with some dirt and a splash of extra reverb. The vocal performance zeroes in on building energy and emphasizing the steady rhythmic drive.
The Traveler is not all garage rock psychedelia but also pulls back brings some acoustic and clean tones into the mix. The album has a hazy stoney vibe and brings to mind images of smoky bars, incense filled rooms with shag carpet for ambiance. The guitars are the primary instrument often with layers of guitar lines split between lead and rhythm but also the guitars are used for background effects that modulate and sustain behind the fronting instruments. Ambassador Hazy moves outside of classic blues and rock bringing in scales that add a eastern sound. The album has good variety while holding a smooth musical arc from start to finish. It sounds like DeWeese is feeling at home with his solo project and is unlocking and is revealing the depth of his talent.
My opinion on this album is biased because I really enjoyed the Heavy Hands album Smoke Signals from so long ago and always wanted a second album from the band. Ambassador Hazy is the closest thing to it. Ambassador Hazy is distinctive from those early days and brings in a wider array of songs and styles. The music on The Traveler is no doubt amongst the best music from DeWeese and it feels like he is just getting warmed up. I highly recommend The Traveler and picking up one of these limited edition vinyl, kicking back and riding the sound waves.
Ambassador Hazy The Traveler
https://ambassadorhazy.bandcamp.com/album/the-traveler (USA orders)
https://cful.bandcamp.com/album/ambassador-hazy-the-traveler (UK / EU Orders)
The Psych Rock
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Thank you so much and yes we do all need psychedelic rock acid folk music in 2021 we need more hippies in our world. Peace n love brother.
Very informative!!! Thanks my friend, can’t wait wait until the next one!!! Much love from dmtworld.net!!!