Full disclosure, I am 100% biased towards the psych rock trio from PA, Ruckzuck. Their music grabbed me on first listen. If you know this band, you know that Ruckzuck’s love of krautrock, psych rock and out sounds and cave sized reverberations are their thing. What they do with that combination is ever evolving and continuing to take shape. They have been playing our room every year since we started hosting live music. Back in 2015 Faith Kelly (lead singer / keys) found our listing on DODIY.ORG and emailed us. From that first echoey caterwaul I was hooked. Meeting Faith, Mac (drums) and Nick (guitar) they are the gentlest souls and have a laser beam focus on their collective expression. As a visual artist, I really appreciate their full commitment to the image of Ruckzuck as well. They come prepared with visuals and costumes, this serves to enhance the psychadelic experience of hearing and seeing them live.
The first track, Coolbaugh walks in the room with Mac beating out a tight asymmetrical rhythm closely followed by Faith’s shimmering vocals, keys and Nick’s supportive guitar playing. This tune finds the band in their element, the essential listening test if you’re down with the sonic trip that Ruckzuck is going to take you on. Dynamic Equilibrium Redefined is an album that is meant to be listened to start to finish. You can tell that these artists paid special attention to how one song flowed into another to form a complete thought as the state of the universe according to Ruckzuck.
As Ruckzuck releases their 5th album the band is continuing to recombine in surprising directions. The epic proportions of tunes like Keystoned State give a window into the anthemic nature of this band as they weave out songs that evoke the arms of the cosmos. Each of the tunes on this record are mini expanding universes where the parallel dimensions snuggle in warm vibrations.
Sometimes bands with point their music to some sort of conclusion this far into their time, not Ruckzuck. I was surprised to hear just as much experimentation and risky creative behavior as on that first weird record (Safe n Sound) I listened to 5 years ago and served as my introduction to their music.
My favorite tune on this album is Obab. Its the one that rattles around inside my head when I wake up in the morning. I like how Ruckzuck is pulling back on the heavy effects and exposing what unique songwriters they are while also being extremely strange still and very pragmatic. This song goes places, it’s out and catchy at the same time and always always optimistic about the future.
Ruckzuck live at The Loading Dock 10/23/17 - Photos by Zach Sar“Seeking a deeper connection to both the supernatural and the earthly, the band writes and records their brand of dreamy, hypnotic rock and roll far removed from society. These psychedelic sounds were recorded in the woodland solitude of the band’s home studio they call “The Pocono Freak House”. Ruckzuck rejects the common perception that bands must be tied to a city to thrive, and instead attempt to listen closer to Mother Nature’s vibration and translate her spirit into music.”
Dynamic Equilibrium Redefined
releases June 5, 2020 All song written and produced by Ruckzuck who are:
Nick Bedo - Guitar, Monotron, Engineering
Mack Bedo - Drums, Vocals and Fan Organ on Track 5
Faith Kelly - Vocals, Keyboards, Moog Synth, Kazoo
Graphic Design by Blair Strain
Front Cover Painting by Nick Bedo