Presenting one of a series of two releases from Huddersfield forward-thinkers THE TIMELESS MUSIC PROJECT. The other disc showcases a superb cross section of West Yorkshire independent labels, whilst this one celebrates the cream of Bradford’s label-seeking talent.
What sticks out here? Well, the absorbing NEESH track ‘Camden Town Cowboy’ is a lush, deep and beautifully constructed sort of classical semi-blues freak out that oozes talent across two movements for a start. This is balanced out with the bass-driven, soundwarping skill of THE PSYCHEDELIC SINGH, whose crashing drum n’ bass/bhangra hybrid ‘Ina Mina Dhika’ explodes in your face despite a groove steeped bassline and funky distorted beats.
There are bands here too. THIS ET AL feature alongside the prog rock of LABORATORY NOISE and slacker sound of HARMACY, whose beautifully blurred Temazepam tales are punished with spirits until they black out. ‘Date With The Bar’ is another gem from them. There’s also a Mod-ish dose of the 6T’s from THE ANALOG BOMBS. ‘Hancock’ is an addictive organ-grinder with pots and pans percussion and a Smith Klein and French pulse that leaps and lurches.
Chiming old-skool disco-rock chills into the mind’s back door off the back of some deep but banging percussion in IMANI KEKIMA’S anthemic soul-soother ‘Robot’s Rebellion’. Elsewhere, PHILLIP G. CHARLES raps crazy style over a mashed up smashed up electro track to scintillating effect during the the gravity-defying fight against apathy ‘It’s Just Me’. For me, it’s the record’s defining moment. Belief in the power of one, amidst soul destroying and oppressive cultural claptrap. Brilliant.
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Ska pulsating sound-system rocksteady emits thanks to BASSMAN GERRY and his throbbing appeal for peace and unity ‘They Fighting’. Contrast this with the delicate and distinctive folk of LAURA GROVES, whose gorgeous offering ‘Coast’ makes you smell the salt in the air.
The clicking castanets and atonal chord progressions of RENT’S ‘P.S…’ makes you hesitate and then blows you away 80’s style. In truth, there’s very little not to like about this veritable Pandora’s box of Bradford talent, some of which will already be familiar to the discerning listener. The rest, ladies and gentlemen, should be. Fantastic.
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