Heat Leisure
– III and IV (Thrill Jockey)
Vinyl/CD/DL
Out Now
Alternative psychedelia
collective release their new album.
There are
quite literally two sides to the new album from Heat Leisure, the collective
made up from members of Pontiak, Guardian Angel and Beach House with the
addition of Robert J Otten III. Sid one
has III span its breadth and it’s a wonderful monster. The first six and a half minutes are taken up
by the rambling monologue of Ken Babbs (Merry Prankster, Grateful Dead) as he
takes us through an episode of intriguing and often amusing musings with an
accent not dissimilar to that of Johnny Cash.
As the voice
reads, a synth gurgles underneath before being superseded by a dramatic cascade
of incessant percussion and ponding guitars and drums to a climatic end. It has to be heard to be believed. Apparently containing high levels of
improvisation (you really wouldn’t know such is the chemistry between the artists)
as well as organs and samplers, III is one of the delights of the moment.
The album
was recorded on the farm belonging to the Carney brothers (Pontiak) with Lain
Carney in control of the engineering. Whilst
recoding the album on 1” tape the ancient reel caused sounds to uncontrollably
speed up and slow down creating wonderful effects which were enhanced as part
of the album.
Second track
(and side) IV is less cohesive and whilst still interesting, it maybe lacks the
power and charm of III. After a slow,
sometimes off key intro, treated voices echo over a trip-hop beat which extends
into manic percussion with a buzzing bass sound underpinning the proceedings. Halfway through it breaks pace into a more
subtle and constructed piece where near tribal drums and floating keyboards
create a semi-ambient atmosphere.
Heat Leisure
have created a very listenable and addictive album which is both original and
compelling from the first word to the last note.
8.5/10
8.5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment