This one is a recent Fathers' Day / birthday gift from son. I saw their 2022 Glastonbury performance and was mightily impressed, which sent this one on to the wishlist.
Opening track John L is an angular, discordant song, with a strong riff on which it all hangs, either side of an anarchic middle section. There's a much calmer feel to the second song, Marlene Dietrich, an almost easy-listening feel, but one where the melody seems to stray and compel the listener to pay attention. Chondromalcia Patella returns to the staccato monotone guitar, punched out before the intro settles to a gentler paced song which ends frantically. Slow kind of passes by, with a vague air of menace, but without really engaging, although by the end it's started to grow on me, and Diamond Stuff is even more low key and minimalist, but without any kind of hook to make it remarkable. Dethroned starts with a dreamy sax melody, before a drum & bass rhythm kicks in and the song, a laid back tune, enters, gradually getting more frantic. But the energy of the opening track returns with the chaos of Hogwash And Balderdash, which is most welcome, and more exciting than the rambling final track Ascending Forth.
It's good to see young bands taking chances and making genuinely experimental music, even if it doesn't always work. There's definitely enough to merit further visits, both to this album and black midi.
3* - Plenty to enjoy here, although not everything hits the mark
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