Cory Hanson: Western Cum

In many ways Cory Hanson is a throwback. A traditionalist who spent his formative years tucked away playing guitar and aspiring to be one of his heroes whose posters adorned his bedroom walls. Hanson has carried this through to adulthood, and with cerebral acumen and solid songcraft, the Los Angeles native has been one of the key architects in keeping the traditions of guitar-based music highly relevant.

Even through the psychedelic excursions as leader of the excellent Wand, Hanson has always been unafraid to wear his influences on his sleeve (recently he’s also been involved in ZZ Top covers band). After all, when you do it so well, why not?

While perhaps considered an awkward title, like the music he produces, Hanson’s follow-up to 2021’s Pale Horse Rider, Western Cum, is all about instinct and being unafraid to follow his nose down whichever path the mood takes.

Martin Frawley: The Wannabe

And what Hanson finds on Western Cum is a world drenched in sweet melodies and trailblazing riffs. An atmospheric, psychedelic patchwork boasting the colours that have inspired everyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd to the Osees.

While Pale Horse Rider was imbued with its own lovely sense of weirdness and The Unborn Capitalist from Limbo (2016) leaned heavily on the influences of The Kinks, Western Cum is a far superior release, showcasing an artist that has moved their songcraft forward. And in this case, it’s with abstract storytelling, sly exhibitionism, and acoustic balladry.

Hanson begins the journey with the shredding opener, Wings. Here he wields his guitar in wild Youngian ways. The sound waves reaching the far corners of the mind, as riffs cut through the outhouse like an axe.

The roadhouse riff-a-rolla of Housefly and the honky-tonk-inspired Horsebait Sabotage are good time rock ’n’ roll captured in a bottle. Unapologetic and southern fried, these songs are the soundtrack to Friday nights in smoke-filled bars with the beer flowing. Hanson’s delivery spirited in ways that make you feel 10 feet tall.

On Persuasion Architecture, feeding into the pipeline of psychedelic speed-rock, Hanson pits calm against the chaos, and in demonstrating his tender side we are met with a pastoral prairie hum ripe for AM radio and lonely highways.

It’s a wonderful lead into Ghost Ship. A song that isn’t just Wester Cum’s highlight, but arguably the song of 2023. For a start, any song which contains a protagonist having cocaine taped to their balls is worthy in many worlds, and Ghost Ship is no exception. With an immediate melody to match, it’s Hanson’s utopian moment as a songwriter and – quite frankly – the kind of song that renders you dead inside if you don’t like it.

Divide and Dissolve: Systemic

Ticking over the ten minute mar, the ethereal jaunt of Driving Through Heaven has all the drama to mirror its title. With metallic proto-punk sonics that coil around Hanson’s melodies, it’s just about full-throttle guitar hero if it weren’t for the howling noise being drowned out by saccharine melodies and a lullaby riff the likes of Pavement would be proud of.

And speaking of those sombre moments, Hanson ends Western Cum with the downright beautiful Motion Sickness. A song that simply pinpricks the heart. With subtle backing vocals and Hanson’s staple melodies, it’s a song that stays with you for hours and, even then, it still doesn’t feel like enough time.

In the lead-up to the release of Western Cum, like a tradesman and their tools, Hanson spoke about finding the right amplifier and guitar, and how the two forge their own relationship in sound. You can feel that transparency through these songs, and coupled with Hanson’s delivery, it all lines up as a wonderful journey in songcraft.

Dovetailing with another recent release, Martin Frawley’s The Wannabe, with Western Cum Hanson has produced a record that will make your day a better one.

Western Cum is out now via Drag City. Purchase from Bandcamp.