Brant Bjork Trio – Once Upon a Time in the Desert (Duna Records) 13th Floor Album Review

For almost four score years Brant Bjork has been part of such acts as Kyuss, Fu Manchu, The Desert Sessions and most recently Stöner, emanating from a scene sometimes referred to as the Palm Desert scene.

Back in 2022, Brant Bjork visited these shores as part of Stöner, with compadres Mario Lalli & the Rubber Snake Charmers in tow, all were in awe after a killer night at the Tuning Fork. 2024 sees Brant Bjork hooking up once again with fellow pioneer Mario Lalli (Fatso Jetson, Desert Sessions) on bass guitar and Brant Bjork band alumni Ryan Güt on drums to release Once Upon a Time in the Desert on the newly relaunched Duna Records, expected to be the home of future Brant Bjork releases.

Heavy Psych Sounds abound throughout the nine songs that make up Once Upon a Time in the Desert, in a way that sees each song telling a different story, musically and narratively. U.R. Free starts the session in a very traditional prog-rock manner, with an infectious psychedelic groove, undertow, it’s a promising start. Backin’ The Daze (the advance taster from the album) has a much more trad-rock feel to it, elements of Thin Lizzy jump out, and there is a funky swing that keeps it all together.

Alas… as we hit the middish point of the album, the softer, subdued side of BB’s personality is embodied via songs: Higher Lows, Down the Mountain & Magic Surfer Magazine. I find myself a little lost, a little less enamoured, a little disconnected. I’m not doubting The Brant Bjork Trio’s skill sets and talents, but the songs meander a little; and perhaps lose focus. Maybe time will be my mentor, and I will rue the days I typed these words, however…

When the trio hit the gas pedal on Sunshine Is Making Love To Your Mind, there is a buzz and blast, that returns with sun-kissed guitar riffs, and carved-out beats, heralding a run of pure, heavy and grooving numbers (I hear Melvins, Masters of Reality & Black Sabbath), Rock And Roll In The Dirt, Astrological Blues (Southern California Girl) & Do You Got Some Fire? Deliver in a fluid, groovy and organic manner, a respite, that brings the listener back into the fold. This quartet leaves me replete in having ventured on the musical journey offered by this trio of magnificent amigos.

Three/four out of Five Stars

Simon Coffey