This fourth LP by the Edinburgh-formed, London-based art-rock quartet contains many of their signature sounds but also contains space-travelling new textures, such as breathy guest vocals by Charlotte Gainsbourg on Waking Up. Mixing indie guitar with synths and even a bit of skiffle (the shuffling, 60s feel of track Got Me Worried) there is a mix of the familiar those those trademark Django Django vocal harmonies fronted by Vinny Neff, especially on Right The Wrongs. Opener Spirals meanwhile has rippling psychedelia crossed with electronic pop, with the album’s title inspired by an old painting rediscovered by Dave MacLean found gathering dust in his parents’ attic that depicts a surreal, otherworldly landscape that perhaps inspires the spacey, minimalist electro pop of Free From Gravity.
Headrush is classic strong-melody Django with Peter Hookish bass line. Night of the Buffalo is one of their catchy tunes, while The World Will Turn, centred around acoustic guitar lies somewhere between Nick Drake and Syd Barrett. And then things change again, with the indie track Kick The Devil Out, which in rhythm and guitar sound, could have jumped straight out of the Madchester era of Stone Roses. Then title track utilities uses a skipping rhythms and vocal sample that apes 90s dance music. So overall, in this album recorded just before the first lockdown, is rich in clever, catchy melodies and experiment. While there’s no doubting this is Django Django, there’s such a playful mix of styles and eras, it’s also something of a psych-and-pop space-and-time machine. Out on Because Music and Ribbon Music.
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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