Ty Segall : Possession
Ty Segall‘s first studio record in about a year—an unusually long time for an artist of his output—could be construed as a reflection on his potential decision to prize quantity over quality. He’s one the most prolific musicians of the past 20 years, and the busiest indie-rocker this side of Guided by Voices, with a body of work that comprises 15 studio albums, two live documents, four compilations, three EPs and 19 singles since he first began releasing music back in 2008. But now, the artist appears to be applying his work ethic with a single focus.
Ironically, while Segall seemingly crafted Possession after spending more time than usual in solitary refinement, so to speak, he ended up making arguably his most inviting, if not accessible, work to date. Other topics of discussion on the record include disillusionment with an increasingly alien world (“Buildings”), the desperate measures some resort to if they find themselves homeless (“Shoplifter”); and what action Segall himself might take to get the attention of “pretty looking people in suits” (“Fantastic Tomb”).
It’s perhaps no surprise that Segall took that angle with Possession because the record comes after he completed his epic Three Bells, which revolved heavily around his self-examination. But Segall returns with a cadre of reliably excellent friends contributing to Possession, principally Mikal Cronin playing sax, and arranging the strings and horns passages on the record.
As he explores new subject matter in the lyrics to Possession, Segall takes a similar tack with his songwriting and performance this time around. “Shoplifter,” a tune that somewhat resembles late-career Beatles, opens the record in style. Segall’s looseness and casual approach belies the technical expertise he put into this Guess Who-sounding record.
For the record, Possession’s title track actually deals with possession in the Biblical sense: “Oh possession, oh possession/ The magistrate, New England moist below him/ Can you hear the bells/ The minister cloaked in black, he rings them/ Yes hear the bells, ring them straight to hell,” Segall sings. How very Nick Cave of him.
“I’ve got nothing to lose/ If I had something/ Yeah they would just take that too,” Segall considers on “Fantastic Tomb.” With that in mind, Possession is something of a miracle: Ty Segall crafted an honest and forthright album without reckless abandon, but rather with a serious and seriously reassuring message in mind.
Label: Drag City
Year: 2025
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Ty Segall : Possession
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