ninehertz

7Zuma7 were one of a handful of bands that made me realise, at a naïve young age, there was more than the big (typically Californian) names as the European stoner sound opened up to me. The Stoned (R)evolution compilation helped – compiled by Walter Hoeijmakers of Roadburn, with liner notes from Lee Dorian and artwork by Frank Kozik, it was a defining document of the genre at that time, and alongside the likes of Kyuss, Sleep and Electric Wizard, it showcased bands such as Beaver, 35007 and 7Zuma7. (Years later I would meet a member of the band, touring with Toner Low who played a 9hz gig in Sheffield for us, where I proceeded to express my love for their prior band.)

Alongside being stalwarts of the scene, a primary source for the ongoing new releases that help keep stoner rock alive, Ripple Music have begun to find lesser-known gems from yesteryear, via their Beneath the Desert Floor series. Deep Inside, originally released in 1999, is their latest and one that transports me back to my youth merely upon seeing the cover.

Listening again after such a long time naturally brings a strong nostalgic joy. You can hear the formative blocks of the whole genre in its DNA, primarily through the fuzz rich guitars evident from song one onwards. There are psychedelic swirling backing noises frequently, clean vocals that on the occasional song sound close to the voice of John Garcia, chilled tracks akin to Brant Bjork’s solo work, faster songs (such as Acid Manic) which sounds like a running engine of the Fu Manchu school.

I’m not totally sure how much I’m enjoying this for what it is right now, or purely for the chance it gives for a warming reminiscence. I suspect both. The biggest names of the sound were from the US, but the European underbelly was always much cooler, and 7Zuma7 were up there with the coolest on the continent. Deep Inside is the proof.