Grumbling Fur – Glynnaestra (Thrill Jockey)
LP/CD
22 July 2013
Sometimes some albums just shouldn’t work, and
this is one of them. Strangely though it
does, with its avant-pop overtone and both acoustic and emulated instruments,
it not only stretches the boundaries of pop as we know it, but, also gives the
listener a very pleasurable trip too.
It’s as though Grumbling Fur have never heard
pop before and have been asked to make something that the whole World will
enjoy, but to be as innovative and inventive as their creativity will
allow. The duo, Daniel O’Sullivan and
Alexander Tucker, have devised an archaic Goddess to watch over the
record. The sphinx like Glynnaestra must
be very proud with the results.
Album opener, Ascatudaea, begins with the
sounds of sound engineers in the studio before someone shouts “Action”. Enter a wonderful gurgling bass synth and
voices not dissimilar to Gregorian chanting with an album intro that sounds
like it will explode at any second, but resists the urge. With a beginning that sounds like a hybrid
cross between Erasure and Depeche Mode, Protogenisis confirms that observation
with its bouncy synths and a voice like an early 80s Dave Gahan. Held quite far back in the mix it carries on
repeating and repeating through a very hypnotic track. When the voice breaks out mid-way through
we’re left with pulsating synth effects driving the track onwards. Ending with words being scrambled and played
backwards, this is obviously the work of the Devil.
The sound of Grumbling Fur is an interesting
twenty first century update of a classic 80s sound, creating a quite appealing
aural pleasure. The Ballad Of Roy Batty
is glorious with its anthemic vocals and one of the several album
highlights. Almost chant like or
religious sounding, its instant familiarity immediately hits the spot with its
endless sweeping chorus which floats on and on.
The calming vocals “I’ve seen things you people would not believe”.
There’s the obligatory pointless track in Cream
Pool which is one of several which then go on to end the album. Let’s not be too hasty in our views of experimentation
though, as it’s often saved us from trite music in the past, but, even with the
absence of three or four tracks of this ilk on Glynnaestra, it would still be a
monster album. The title track is case
in point – whereas it’s harmless enough, it really is little else.
Dancing Light is an absolute monster of a track
and one of the best songs you’ll hear all Summer. Hints of a Stone Roses melody with amazing
soft vocal and superb backing track.
Beautiful.
Glynnaestra isn’t a perfect album and could
quite easily have been trimmed down to nine or ten tracks from its thirteen,
but despite that, what is good is absolutely brilliant.
9/10
Published on Louder Than War 19/07/13 - here
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