Tumbleweed
Mumbo Jumbo

For months Wollongong's most celebrated exports were in the process of assembling
an album of new material. Fortunately, Tumbleweed have proven they are still up
to the task. Mumbo Jumbo represents the return of the classic, thick, melodic
Tumbleweed sound, albeit in a slightly updated form. The signature wackiness is
applied to some tunes which bare the mark of a band that has matured (without
losing any of its sense of fun) both artistically and technically.

Production of Mumbo Jumbo - which was completed with the assistance of Phil
McKellar (producer for the likes of the Cruel Sea, Spiderbait, etc) - is well
worthy of the return to form that this album represents, with a number of very
imaginative touches added to the solid rock attitude that has always been
Tumbleweed. The tunes themselves range from the full tilt "stoner rock" (yes,
it's a horrible way to describe things, but unfortunately seems to be the
accepted term) of "Don't Ask Why" to some more quirky pop type stuff like "Glow
in the Dark," which is reminiscent of some of the Johnnys' old material.

The album's opener, "Planet of the Weeds," is a standout song, especially in the
way it seems to start in the middle, hitting straight up with the wonderful "I
hate to say it but your planet's going to die" hook. This tune, which has
received attention from Triple J, is classic Tumbleweed - strong riffing
accompanied by a quirky, melodic vocal. That this album juxtaposes radio friendly
tunes like this with some wonderful slower atmospheric material ("Blue Lady") is
a good indication that Tumbleweed are still a band possessed of fantastic
imagination.

The wide range of material Mumbo Jumbo throws to the listener is perhaps its most
pleasing aspect, in that it shows a collective who are still growing and pushing
their own boundaries. For long time fans of the 'Weed, this album should serve as
a very pleasing reminder of just why you originally loved them so. For those who
missed them first time around, Mumbo Jumbo is a very respectable invitation to
come and see what all the fuss was about.

****

Dan Lander
Juice.net