Often venturing out solo, Ty Segall has always had a soft spot for collaboration. For his new album Possession (Drag City), he teamed up with filmmaker and writer Matt Yoka—flipping the script, as Segall had previously composed the music for Yoka’s Whirlybird.
Can we sense a particular influence? What’s clear is that this may be Segall’s most accessible work to date. A colorful folk-rock album, Possession is Californian through and through—sun-kissed and painted in psychedelic hues. The cluttered garage, the electronic experiments, the punk edge—all absent.
Pop? Absolutely. And not afraid of a little grandeur. “Buildings” brings in strings, “Skirts of Heaven” swells with a brassy finale. Around that, gorgeous folk songs unfold—playful in the way only Segall can be, yet never overly complex. Perhaps that’s Yoka’s influence shining through.
It’s a rich album without being overindulgent. There are expansive tracks like “The Big Day,” and tighter cuts like the title track. “Another California Song” even adds a hint of fuzz without leaning too garage-y. A summer album? No doubt. And closer to Harry Nilsson than anyone might’ve expected.
Ty Segall – Possession: A California best-of. – RIFL