It’s been a while coming but at long last there’s a new Fighting Boredom album reviews page. We listen to stuff and tell you what we think, hoping that at least one ir two of you will like them enough to pick something up, the PRs that send this stuff out spend a good amount of time writing introductions to the releases so I will introduce all the bands now with the words we were sent. Then you can read what we think… So today we bring you Mark Stewart and ‘a vital new masterwork completed shortly before his untimely passing in April 2023.’ If you ‘Cross Can’s rhythm section with Roland Kirk, Motown & the Third Stream and you’ll get close to where The The Near Jazz Experience is coming from.’ Jordfäst, who are ‘Musically rooted in black metal and Scandinavian melancholy, Jordfäst incorporates a wide range of musical elements from both thrash and heavy metal, as well as melodies sprung from classic Scandinavian folk music.’ PÔT-POT merge harmonium drones, phosphorescent textures, tremolo guitars and half-spoken vocals. Volk Soup who have created one of my favourite albums of the year ‘Threading wiry post-punk, dissonant noise and bursts of free-jazz intensity’. Basaltic Plateau is a sonic experiment fusing psychedelic fascinations, stoner rock, and the abrasive distortion of noise. Smote give us ‘pantheistic forays into drone-based abandon..and.. the influence of folk songs and legends, as well as electronic music’ make their presence felt.’. ‘Vexations create frenetic and off-kilter post-psych, with dissonant layered guitars, unorthodox song structures, and vocals that oscillate between spoken word and emphatic screams, to give a punchy yet unearthly sonic experience.’ Coroner’s album is full to the brim of huge riffs, blood-curdling vocals, wailing leads and a ferociousness that runs riot throughout its entire duration’. William Colvert’s sublime album is ‘Exploring the territories on the intersection of improvised music, jazz and ambient soundscapes’. The Lemonheads with ‘a bold, melodic reaffirmation of one of alternative rock’s most distinctive voices’ and coldrain whose album is ‘brimming with towering riffs, alluring melodies, bags of energy and some of their catchiest choruses yet’. Have a read and listen below, let us know if you agree or disagree, start an argument, shout at us….
Mark Stewart – The Fateful Symmetry
Mute
Mark Stewart was a colossus, imposingly tall and solid he led the Pop Group into the depths of Post Punk Funk influencing everyone from hip hop kids to US Industrial trailblazers. This is the first release since his passing last year and I can tell you what it’s not, this is not a posthumous collection of scraps and half finished music. This is in fact a brilliant distillation of his work, it is almost too emotional, resonating and pretty much essential. Buy it.
The Near Jazz Experience – Tritone
Dimple Discs
This is indeed pretty near jazz, it’s also ace! The Photographer will not be a fan of this one. The really strange thing is that it’s one nutty boy from Madness and two members of the Higsons. This is not the music you would expect from them, but that’s maybe the point, it’s spaced out drum led jazz spookiness and it’s great.
Jordfäst – Blodsdåd och hor
Black Lion Records
Look at the cover, lost hard edged monochrome mountain peaks shrouded in mist and cloud, patches of snow lying scattered across the scene, gothic script and weird logo. This is going to be Black Metal through and through. It doesn’t disappoint either, massive melodic orchestral guitars layered over manically fast beats and growling gravelly vocals. I mean, if that sounds like your bag, you’ll love it.
PÔT-POT – Warsaw 480km
A psych rock laid back sound is the bedrock for this Krautrock inspired shining album. It’s all about finding the groove and taking it to its logical conclusion. A great, mesmerising trip that strays into swampy blues and muffled wonkiness. An immersive, interesting album that’s well worth investing your ears in.
Volk Soup – 10p Jazz
Cruel Nature \ Dipterid Records
You know the film of The Cramps playing in the asylum, where you are not sure who is in the band and who is a performer, well this sounds like what the crowd would have created after that gig. It starts easily, languid crooning voice and piano but then… free punk jazz, hardcore messed up grooves, what sounds like the West Side Story soundtrack mating with a polka band. Spooky lounge jazz for a rest and then mariachi low croons. Croons to incoherence, hardcore thrash to saxophone jazz grooves, it really just needs you to hear it, go on, give it a chance, they deserve to be massive.
Basaltic Plateau – Dead Dinosaurs Echoes
Electric Valley Records
I’ve heard a lot of this instrumental psych rock and it doesn’t seem to be drying up anytime soon. As with everything there’s good and bad. This, you’ll be pleased to hear is very good. It’s gentle to start but soon slips into the gravel blasted guitar and drums you’d expect from someone called Basaltic Plateau. A great stoner psych trip.
Smote – Songs From The Free House
Rocket Recordings
Drones and noise, whines and horns. A menacing run through a moonless woodland falling, tripping and slipping knowing that the thing behind you will inevitably catch you up. This is brilliant, a dark folk record led with drones. Chanting, wild and free echoes through the music. A masterwork of sound and emotion. It is exhilarating, all encompassing and exhausting.
VEXATIONS – A Dream Unearthly
Cruel Nature
Think early Killing Joke intensity with white hot, razors edge, sound and that’s what Vexations give you, beats, discordant guitars and a clear speaking voice, it starts strong and it stays strong. Weird, angular and hard as nails with peaks of rusted steel and broken brick, a brilliant sound.
Coroner – Dissonance Theory
Century Media Records
With their first record in around two decades Coroner return. Technical fast nasty Metal. It’s a decent record, the vocals are nice and rough, the sound is crisp and hard. The sentiments are reassuringly dark. If you like this sort of thing, you’ll love it. Not my favourite this time.
William Covert – Dream Vessel
Coup Sur Coup Records
A brilliantly interesting immersive record. Crystal clear and deep as the darkest ocean. The layers of sound bring you in and the drums stop you leaving. At times suffocating in it’s intensity and at others as wide as the sky. A wonderful creation of free jazz, drones, synthesisers and emotions. One of my albums of the year.
The Lemonheads – Love Chant
Fire Records
Right, Evan’s voice is shot. But the life he’s lived you’d expect nothing else. It’s rougher and deeper but to be honest, it doesn’t matter. I’m not the kid who discovered Luka, Lick and fell head over heels in love with A Shame About Ray and Different Drum. I’m older, more confused and my whole soul is rougher and deeper so this music is for me really. It takes a few listens, there’s the pop hooks, the grunge grooves and a sense of life lived. I didn’t know what to expect but I am very pleasantly surprised. It’s a great Lemonheads record.
coldrain – Optimize
Century Media Records
They are Japanese, very photogenic and very cool and I am way way out if this record’s demographic. Think nu metal meets up with pop punk and makes a baby band that is perfectly formed, the video’s are great, and will appeal to teenagers just starting on their noise journey. Had I discovered these forty five years ago I’d love them and I’m sure there’s a huge crowd for them.. it’s just that I’m not part of it.
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Mark Stewart’s website is markstewartmusic.com, he is also on Facebook pages and Bandcamp.
The Near Jazz Experience are on Bandcamp and Facebook.
Jordfäst’s website is jordfast.net they are also on Facebook and Instagram.
PÔT-POT are on Instagram.
VOLK SOUP are on Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.
Basaltic Plateau are on Instagram.
Smote are on Instagram.
Vexations are on Facebook and Instagram.
Coroner’s website is coronerofficial.com they are aslo on Facebook and Instagram.
William Covert is on Bandcamp, Facebook and Instagram.
The Lemonheads website is thelemonheads.net they are also on Instagram and Facebook.
coldrain’s website is coldrain.jp, they are also on Facebook and Instagram.
All words by Adrian Bloxham.
