Floating somewhere between semi-acoustic prog-rock, jazz, folk, modern classical and spoken word, the seven-piece experimental London band have long been lauded as the next great thing from the Windmill, Brixton, and finally release their six-song debut LP. Somewhere between clever and pretentious, annoying and wonderful, their bold genre-bending approach can pleasantly surprise, nauseate and move, encapsulated in the song Science Fair, in which guitarist Isaac Wood’s half-spoken half-sung intensity is backed by a haunting assault of saxophone and distortion. They are natural experimental partners to Black Midi, who themselves get mentioned – “I told you I loved you in front of Black Midi” we hear on Track X, with all the irony, hope and despair of the next generation with wry, laced with unpredictable lyrics expressed in mumbles, whispers and screams. Sunglasses, and also Athens, France are finely re-worked versions of old songs, while Opus is an eight-minute epic that builds with a sense of theatrical tragedy Out on Ninja Tune.
Feel free to also check out our favourite albums of 2020 here:
Fiona Apple to Lianne La Havas to Yves Tumor: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 1
Agnes Obel to Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers to Sault: favourite albums of 2020 – Part 2
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