The 20th album in as many years from Oh Sees/Thee Oh Sees/the Oh Sees/OCS/etc. is what a late-night, fireside, gypsy-caravan jam session would feel like, with the added charm of an early, pop-savvy Françoise Hardy album. It’s a mesmerizing and haunting labyrinth filled with morbid storytelling, hurdling tempos and rhythms that would perfectly soundtrack a meaningful coastal or cross-country road trip. Yet sonically and lyrically, Memory Of A Cut Off Head comes with a bite that has a foreboding, overwhelming sense of existential dread. While overall the tempo and timbre of the songs is upbeat, the lyrics of each track speak to the likes of political sheep, an executioner, addiction and a fool in love. The musical roots of most of the material here is true to desert folk rock, with heart-wrenching instrumental strings and harrowing harmonies. While this is technically the prolific John Dwyer going by his original moniker of OCS, it’s also a showcase for on-and-off longtime band member Brigid Dawson’s return to the fold. Here, in a welcome return, she co-wrote all the songs and adds her distinctive vocals.
—Megan Matuzak
