Horn the Unicorn

Since Ty Segall played in the San Francisco Bay Area surf-rock band the Traditional Fools, it makes perfect sense to hear the cosmic vibrations of vintage Fender spring-reverb come piping through his first compilation, especially on the string-bending instrumental, “Thee Jammm.” Horn the Unicorn was first released as a cassette, collaging demos, bedroom recordings, and four-tracked tunes that all sound more lo-fi than a ‘70s fast-food drive-thru-speaker. This 2008 reissue kept the original mix intact, which is a good thing since songs like the opening cut “Shoot Me In the Head” just wouldn’t sound as feral were it mixed anywhere outside the garage. “Can’t Talk to You” plays like it was lifted from any bygone surf-bum/juvenile-delinquent movie like 1967’s Hot Rods to Hell. “Apples” sounds largely inspired by the Damned’s “Neat Neat Neat” before the song explodes into a hyperactive garage-rock stomper replete with Farfisa organ and a drum kit that sounds accessorized with kitchen utensils. Segall turns Syd Barrett’s “Bike” into a barely recognizable freaked-out temper tantrum with hilarious results.