My 1001 Albums Journey

I was bang up for this after hearing the haunting vocals and jagged beats of the opening track, 'Preface', followed by the quite beautiful, and a little raunchy, 'Lights On'. I loved it - sounding like someone had spliced Kate Bush with Bjork and replaced Thom Yorke with them during Kid A/Amnesiac-era Radiohead, but told Jonny, Colin and Ed to ditch the guitars. However, it then began to feel that it was just the same formula throughout the rest of the album: soulful voice over the top of chopped beats. Nothing wrong with that and I still very much enjoyed it. So much so that it remained on a loop for most of the day and I kept finding new little sonic nuggets with each play-through.

This is an extreme musical example of the Marmite principle - and I wanted to slather it all over my morning bitterly toast, then lick the knife. Granted, you can’t listen to this all day, everyday: it’s an assault on your brain and ears which doesn’t leave you much choice other than to turn the volume firmly down then rip off the knob or jump right in and let the chaos wash over you. But. It’s chaos built on a foundation of incredible talent and musicianship. Two saxophone, two drum kits and a bass guitar all improvising and able to remain in some Free Jazz hive mind state. Most of the album is so perilously on the edge of descending and unraveling into an inaudible dirge - but they some how keep enough tension between them to keep walking along the tightrope. However there are also examples of more traditional harmonies and jazz rhythms (Ecars, Feet Music & Mob Job) to show that these are a group of musicians right at the top of thier game. And fuck me, rather this than Oasis, The Manics or The Stones. At least they won’t die wondering “What if…?”

Well… that was a bloody brilliant, beautifully bonkers ride through Brian Wilson’s mind. A true creative maverick and songwriting genius.