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Alan Jenkins — Pig Costume from the Time of the Vikings
(Cordelia Records no#, 2026, DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-07-27

Pig Costume from the Time of the Vikings Cover art

Alan Jenkins continues his absurdist psychedelic journey on from E.H. Gorilla Ltd. Atomic Engineering and Mobile Library with another evocative title, Pig Costume from the Time of the Vikings. The album presents ten tracks: one epic near 20 minutes in length and nine shorter pieces, some barely over a minute long. “Your Place in Line” goes through a lot of changes in its 19:45, with the recurring recording of a hold message informing us that our place in line is three. There are vocal sections with twangy guitar and intriguing lyrics, a saxophone solo backed with the wiggly sound of an Otamatone (look it up), space rock grooving with effected guitar, free jazz blowing (only briefly), and more, making for quite a musical trip. The shorter tracks present more of the same variety, like “Note to Self: Add Frog,” which consists of guitar improvisations backed by Mellotron chords and odd noises. “Cazador Country” is another slice of the warped surf rock that Jenkins is known for, and features an unhinged fuzz guitar. “Balloon Head” is primarily an extended guitar solo that goes through a whole lot of different tones and styles, from Spanish-inflected surf to wigged-out ultra-fuzz worthy of 1969, and then after three minutes it mutates into song with harmonica, organ, piano, and various backwards sounds. While Jenkins certainly has a number of methods he returns to in his music, the result is always unpredictable, with an air of spontaneity and a cabinet full of toys and other noisemakers. Pig Costume should bring a smile to the face of anyone who enjoys the adventurous spirit of 60s psychedelic rock but isn’t hung up on nostalgia.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Alan Jenkins

More info
http://alanjenkins.bandcamp.com/album/pig-costume-from-the-time-of-the-vikings

 

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