Australian rock outfit King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are starting the new year with the arrival of another new single, “O.N.E.”. Released on Thursday, the latest recording from the workhorse rock band follows “If Not Now, Then When?” shared back in December.
Opening with some gentle, slightly-mystic notation to start the 3:40 minute song, the music quickly livens up with a Middle Eastern swing and just enough added distortion to match their trademark fuzz-rock sound. The band continues to explore notation and melody arrangements often heard in older parts of the world within their own songwriting, and do so without forfeiting the energizing, adrenaline rock production for which they’re known and loved.
The song’s animated music video was directed by Alex McClaren, who added of his efforts in a statement,
The song itself feels as if it’s constantly moving along so I tried to keep the visuals continually moving forward and sliding into different visual styles and landscapes. I felt the mix of stop motion and collage through the use of found imagery and the band would help compliment the track’s lyrics and themes as I interpreted them, of dreams, nightmares, climate change, dystopias, and utopias, as well as referencing events that took place during the making of the video over 2020. All video of the band was shot by Ambrose during the second lockdown restrictions and I had to give notes on shooting and direct remotely which was strange but so was everything during that period.
Listen to the new song from King Gizzard below.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – “O.N.E.”
[Video: King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard]
“O.N.E.” and “If Not Now, Then When?” are both expected to appear on the band’s next studio album, L.W., which would follow the surprise arrival of K.G. back in late November. The Middle Eastern music-inspired album was one of the selected works included in Live For Live Music‘s “Best Psychedelia Albums Of 2020” staff picks. This forthcoming album is reportedly one of three records the band plans to release in 2021.