Ben LaMar Gay‘s Yowzers explodes as a mesmerising collision of folklore, free jazz, and psychedelic blues that defies easy categorisation.

The Chicago multi-instrumentalist and AACM member has built an impressive catalog over the past decade, from his breakthrough compilation Downtown Castles Can Never Block The Sun to collaborations with Makaya McCraven and the late jaimie branch. His prolific output spans countless International Anthem releases and creative partnerships.

About the album and track title, Gay says: ‘Yowzers’ was a word and a sound that came to mind while observing the intersection of humor and horror in our present reality. On one side of a coin flip, ‘yowzers’ is a deep sigh that quietly exits the body after facing the absurd. On the other side, it is a cry of amazement at how many secrets were left behind to help us endure and transcend the absurdity.”

Yowzers showcases Gay’s working quartet with Tommaso Moretti, Matthew Davis, and Will Faber, blending polyrhythmic constructions with intuitive melodic storytelling. The album seamlessly weaves live quartet recordings with studio compositions, creating what feels like true Americana filtered through an improvisational lens.

Standouts include the hypnotic title opener, featuring a haunting three-chord blues about climate crisis, and John, John Henry, which brilliantly updates the classic folk tale with electronic textures and vocal rhythms that sound challenging yet feel intuitive.

This is essential listening, a masterwork that pushes American musical traditions into thrilling new territories while honouring their ancient roots.