It’s that
time of year again. It’s raining, a big
fat bearded man sits children on his knee and promises them gifts and adults
sit in front of the TV with alcoholic beverages that they don’t really enjoy to
watch endless repeats of The Wizard Of Oz/The Sound Of Music/Miracle On 34th
Street (delete as applicable). Have you
bought enough presents for your music loving loved one? Here are three albums that you may like to consider filling the proverbial
stocking with.
Dementio13 –
Broxen (Tanzwuth Recordings)
DL
8.5 / 10
Out Now
Post-rock electronica soloist
Dementio13 has been around for a while releasing EPs and albums of terrific
quality, each time sounding better and better, Broxen is no exception. An artist that is continually evolving,
Broxen brings forwards tracks of increased maturity and addiction. Influences from krautrock are obvious and the
occasional oddness only helps to ensure that the Wales based Wiganer doesn’t
fit into any shaped box.
Album opener, No Maps sees the
gorgeous vocals and words of Jo Whitby whose warming tones mould perfectly
around the scattering percussion and addictive backing. From there things launch straight into the
experimental with Jacques De Vaucanson, and there lies the beauty. Paul Dementio is prepared to gamble.
With third track In Patterns the
pace is lifted significantly to a dance orientated gurgle and effervescent
beat, and the eclectic mind-set of Broxen is confirmed. Slightly madcap synthed voices complete the wonderful
composition.
Call it lo-fi, call it D.I.Y.,
call it whatever you will but Broxen is a fine collection of mixed beats,
styles and ideas from a man not prepared to stand still and spread his electro
wings. With further collaborations from
Rob Halcrow (Picturebox), Manfred Hamil (The Shed Collective) and Colin
Robinson (Big Block 454, Jumble Hole Clough) included together with a fine
appearance from Squarepusher on album closer MIDI Sans Frontieres, this is an
album that has already received widespread acclaim and reaction.
Ashley
Reaks – Growth Spurts
DL
8.5 / 10
Out Now
A second
album in one year and a further one already top go in 2017, Ashley Reaks is
currently rich in creative form, although when isn’t he?
Growth
Spurts presents ten tracks of pure originality and uniqueness once more. From the gnarled, screaming like a scene from
The Exorcist to its many experimental punk-jazz overtones Growth Spurts is a
journey of incredible proportion.
Several appearances by guest vocalists including poets Kevin Boniface on
Candy Shaped Bananas and Mike Watts on the hilarious Talk About Lucky add
further talent to the one already brimming from Reaks.
The Gentle
Art Of Ignoring incorporates freestyle jazz sax and piano which might otherwise
have you reaching for the Valium but with the masterstroke addition of words
from Sylvie Hill make sit one of the many highlights.
In much the
same way that Ashley’s critically acclaimed collages invoke emotion upon
emotion, so too do his music which explores every pore of your being. If you’ve never heard his work before then
Growth Spurts is as good a place to start as any and will undoubtedly have you
wanting for more.
Pulco –
Chrome Toe (Recordiau Prin)
CD / DL
8.5 / 10
Out Now
One of the
albums of the year (Farmyard And Animal), two Eps and a re-release of his
Shakin Stevens cover Merry Christmas Everyone clearly isn’t enough yearly
output for Pulco, so here comes another album.
The lo-fi,
home produced noise is described as “a confusing mix of broken synth, found
sound, glitch guitar and dark uncomfortable rants”, and you can’t really argue
with that. Chrome Toe sees Pulco at his
most creative and experimental whether it be the sound of a food whisk or
general random noise and cut-ups.
From opener,
Highform its clear this is no ordinary album and ‘extraordinary’ doesn’t do it
justice either. The world of Pulco on
Chrome Toe is a fascinating place to be – sometimes joyous, often disturbing
but always enthralling – and brings together fourteen tracks which will
challenge any listener.
Imagine a musical
collage of out of control instruments and an artist who has nothing to prove but
everything to offer. Technoleg Bwyd sees
a sea shanty theme sung over maritime ramblings and obverse synths. Hypnic Jerk probably contains everything including
the kitchen sink and Pop Nature is anything but as it waves more reverb than a
big reverb stick.
Amazing
stuff from a true original.
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