Track Review: Whoopie Cat ‘Dissolution’

Cover of Whoopie Cat’s ‘Illusion of Choice’

Whoopie Cat is a rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Their members consist of Dan Smoo (vocalist/rhythm guitar), Jesse Juzwin (lead guitar/backup vocals), Josh Brandon (bass guitar/backup vocals), Jaksen Juzwin (drums), and Jo Eileen (keys/vocals). Whoopie Cat has two recordings out, the self-titled 2016 EP Whoopie Cat, and a 2018 full-length album Illusion of Choice.

The quintet’s music has been described as having “hook laden heavy blues, sensual soul-crusted croons and feral melodies with deeply penetrating lyrics.”

Whoopie Cat’s track “Dissolution” — from their debut Illusion of Choice, is full-on garage rock, with a stoner-esque blues tinge. Vocalist Smoo reminds me a lot of Alex Maas, vocalist of The Black Angels (psychedelic garage rock), with the same vocal inflections and singing style.

The song starts off with a fairly simple bluesy riff,  then transitions to a second one, and around a minute in, “Dissolution” turns purely acoustic. There’s a ‘60s sounding organ in the background, adding a psychedelic texture. There’s also some progressive flairs near the middle of the song, as well as a synth/organ solo and guitar solo.

Afterward, a slower version of the first riff plays, with the gang vocals adding a soul-esque texture. The song fades out with an extended guitar solo and the gang vocals, accompanied only by the organ.

A good track from this Australian outfit, but one that could be even better with some more overtly psychedelic touches.