This lot (four-piece from the London area, or maybe Epping) have been baiting the press recently with their “comes from the forest” schtick but single ‘The Evidence” (track 2 on this release) was a fine teaser for a debut long-player which does not disappoint…
Operating on the edges of neopop/funk, the tracks are harsh at times but solidly committed to smash the zeitgeist – every track reaches out to the listener, and there are some palpable shades of Nu-Rave, (Klaxons especially), which BM has missed a bit over the years since those late noughties years…
In fact, ‘Undilated Lovers’ is a great Nu-Rave track, all twisted synth lines and rap talking, along with a pummelling backbeat – fucking great actually!
‘Susurrations in the Forest’ is even more electronic and could be a soundtrack to some event of doom – sounding again like an offcut from the first Klaxons album (not a diss btw) it grooves its instrumental way to oblivion, of some kind…
Starting with a vocal declaration, ‘Rhythm is Our Business” is not in fact a cover of the Jimmie Lunceford track, but BM remembers some other reference to this phrase, apologies – anyway, it is a monumentally tight funk workout, and all due respect, cover or not… these guys have razor sharp musical vision and the ability to go with it as well!
‘Psiturhythm’ is another massive musical workout which could equal Talking Heads in their pop-funk prime, it really sounds that good – a wigout of epic proportions, with everything thrown at it, but importantly, it has tune and heart…
BM is now completely worn out, but the last few tracks are just as good – lower BPM ‘The Prince is Back’ is glorious and there are some Fall references here – definitely an influence, but in a good way…
Penultimate track ‘Xylophobia’ is actually the longest on the album and it does takes its time – more MES vocal throwbacks, and just a great Krautrock-influenced groove, which goes on for quite a while, before breaking into some great instrumental solos (drums/synths etc), really wayout there and sounds like the groop are really enjoying themselves here – incredibly good!
Finally, the outro to the album, and following some more forest sounds, it gets around to it after the intro, and again shows this combo are in their pomp – supremely confident, and why not, after such a phenomenal series of tracks on this pretty unique album.
Mind blown!