Smoke & Mirrors by Dixie Witch

Roadburn Magazine
Texas finest sons deliver some damn fine, shit-kicking stoner boogie for long hot summer nights.

Dixie Witch's latest "Smoke & Mirrors" kicks off with a superb double act, the magnificent 'Set The Speed' followed swiftly by 'Shoot The Moon.'
'Set The Speed' with its Skynyrd meets Sabbath ginuwine rock-a-thon vibrations, blasts convincingly into the equally air-guitar friendly 'Shoot The Moon.' This mighty opening salvo is then followed by the dirty Motorhead and Mastodon drag race called 'S.O.L.' Talk about a fine start to their latest offering.

Dixie Witch - Smoke & Mirrors 'Ballinger Cross' follows the rather blah 'Out In the Cold' and outdoes it in every way possible, making the former seem all the more like filler material. After a brief rolling session and some reflection comes an unexpected foot stomping change in the middle of 'Getaway', followed by a very serious solo. Texan boys Dixie Witch sure can rock, whether it's for two minutes or seven, as bombastic solos are confronted with a heavy modern backline and a whole heap of fuzz.

Skynyrd-style guitar bottlenecking are the bones of 'What You Want', which displays a very southern groove. The vocals here are sort of reminiscent of Dave Wyndorf sent back to the 60s to save the future of rock.

The vocals in general are very classic rock, with overtones at times of both Ozzy and Bruce Dickinson. No bad thing, but they sometimes fail to match the intensity of the heavy-dropping backline and some dynamics feel slightly unfulfilled. That said, I far prefer the band's vocal delivery to any full-on growl-o-rama!

Dixie Witch recorded this album with Joel Hamilton, who has worked with acts as diverse as Mike Patton and Elvis Costello, and his touch shines through in the production, everything sounds as it was meant to, from the dirty gritty moments to the shiny peaks of the songs.
"Smoke and Mirrors" can certainly kick out the jams, although the pace does drop a bit from the raucous start. A rather fine slab of modern stoner grooves to kick back with on a long hot summer's eve, this is perfect music for driving to the beach on one of 'those' days. Best enjoyed lightly chilled.

Tracklist

1.	Set the Speed	4:32

2.	Shoot the Moon	2:24

3.	S.O.L.	2:37

4.	Out in the Cold	3:52

5.	Ballinger Cross	6:28

6.	Getaway	2:52

7.	Bridges	3:15

8.	What You Want	2:50

9.	Thursday	3:19

10.	Gunfight	2:52

11.	Last Call	9:29

Credits

released April 14, 2006

Dixie Witch is:
Bass & Vox: Curt Christenson
Guitars: Clayton Mills
Drums & Vox: Trinidad Leal

Produced, engineered and mixed by Joel Hamilton @ Studio G - Brooklyn, NY.
Mastered by Doug Henderson
Assistant Engineer: John Davis

Matthew Welsh:wurlitzer piano on "Last Call"
John Davis: Hammond B3 on "Last Call"
Tony Maimone: Hammond B3 Organ and Piano on "Last Call".

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