Wooden Shjips

Wooden Shjips

Wooden Shjips are a San Francisco group active since 2003. They play loud psychedelic rock with influences from experimental music, classical minimalism and garage rock, and are also associated with alternative rock, indie rock, neo-psychedelia and space rock.

Style and lineup

The band begins as an experiment in rhythmic primitivism and group improvisation, but their later performances use a more structured rock approach. Their standard lineup features Omar Ahsanuddin on drums, Dusty Jermier on bass, Nash Whalen on organ, and Erik “Ripley” Johnson on guitar and vocals.

Their sound is described through comparisons with early Echo & the Bunnymen, the Scientists, krautrock, Suicide, Deerhunter, desert rock psych and Les Rallizes Denudes, combining drone-like repetition, organ texture and garage rock energy.

Releases and activity

In 2006 they release the self-issued 10-inch EP Shrinking Moon for You, which sells out quickly. A 7-inch on Sick Thirst follows and also attracts strong notice. They later issue material on Holy Mountain, Sub Pop and Pollymaggoo Records, and appear at NoisePop 2007 and SXSW in Austin.

The band’s debut on Holy Mountain is the self-titled Wooden Shjips. Their work is noted for its dreamlike, hallucinatory character and for turning garage psych into a dense, immersive form.