Three-piece South African psych-rock band The Tazers have been around the block a few times—but there’s much more to come. Formed in 2013, they’ve released three EPs and a full-length album, dishing out electrically entertaining performances at some of the country’s biggest festivals. The Tazers—made up of Jethro Lock, Tim Edwards and Guida Assmann—have a handy habit of getting people pumped up. Their old-school-with-a-modern-twist sound is accessible and catchy enough to sing along to in an instant and, although their roots are in the 70s, they superimpose modern mechanics and relatable concepts onto their music in a fresh way. Their 2023 EP, Fuzz Machine is a reverb-rich effort punctuated by polished vocal harmonies, rolling drums and psychedelic themes. Frivolity, irreverence and poignance all collide on this punchy piece of work. It offers up a generous portion of social commentary and reflection on everyday global issues with a dollop of carefree, feel-good escapism on the opening track “In My Mind” that’s so important in a fast-paced society. “Take This” alludes to the use of prescription medication: “I don’t care about the money, just give it to me/I just wanna clear my head”. Insomnia, everyday expenses and disillusionment are all woven into the modern lived reality, but there’s always an escape route. On “Take That”, the band showcases its impressive drumming chops as the pressure valve is released. Fuzz Machine is a timely reminder that this life thing is serious business—but it’s not always that deep.