You Are Still Here

Album review

The sixth solo album from West Coast psychedelic/garage pop stylist Tim Cohen (the Fresh & Onlys, Magic Trick), You Are Still Here is notably his first to be recorded in a proper studio. It was produced by James Barone (Beach House, Tennis), who fans will be glad to hear not only honored but has augmented Cohen's unpolished, spontaneous-sounding, often kitchen-sink approach to recording and arranging. Barone also played drums on the album. A particularly varied set that barhops through sub-styles of mid- to late-'60s psychedelia, it opens with "Rage On," a dreamlike excursion through echoing slow strums and Rhodes piano until a Bach-like harpsichord diversion appears midway through. "Somebody Bout to Get Shot" instead leans into gospel and rock with instrumentation that includes driving bass, string voices, horns, and choir-like backing singers. He dives into surf as well as Rawhide-era Western vibes on "Almost Enemies," one of the album's more urgent entries. Its trippy lyrics include lines like "You know how ghosts can be" and "One road wasn't even paved/Led me to a grave/Where my old soul couldn't shed a tear/For I had no memories." Elsewhere, "Homeless" embraces whimsical timbres as part of its funky groove, and "Give Me You" offers an upbeat, theatrical version of psych-pop. It's one of several songs to use what sound like found objects and percussion alongside drum kit. The album closes on the meandering, over-six-minute "Dadaist Friend," which holds sections of loungey guitar and mallet percussion, church-like organ and mini-choir, and driving instrumental psych-rock. Despite its capricious quality and production upgrade, You Are Still Here remains distinctly Tim Cohen, and should be a welcome installment for followers.
© Marcy Donelson /TiVo