Ahhhh, these bass-lines…! Yet another one of Squarepusher’s projects? Has Bootsy Collins risen from the dead? At least the clothes worn on stage would fit the latter. Actually, the sound does, too. Perfectly placed bass-lines, fiddled together in harmony and complexity with an almost content smirk. Weed-induced warbling of love. And the right groove for every attempt to seduce. Even Barry White could have been the force behind this whole thing. But behold! Thundercat is actually Steve Burner, bassist of the hardcore-band Suicidal Tendencies. And, according to everybody’s darling Flying Lotus, one of the best bassists in general. Which is why Flying Lotus wanted to be the one to produce Thundercat’s debut-album and to release it on his very own label Brainfeeder. Whoever gets irritated by the title, should be reminded that the apocalypse doesn’t only signify the end of the world as we know it, but also the beginning of the kingdom of god. And the old man is a force of love, as we all know. Hence, The Golden Age Of Apocalypse is sugar-sweet music, spiked with a hint of the 80s and Fusion Jazz in its blood. Flying Lotus proves yet again – as he did on his EP Reset of 2007 – that he’s an incredibly attentive and good listener. He pushes the imitation of styles from the time between 1975 and 1981 to its utmost perfection, including the full package of kitsch. It’s like the last 30 years of music history have never taken place – neither for him nor for us listeners. Admittedly, that’s quite impressive. Unfortunately, in full album length, quite otiose, too.
Julien Baker & TORRES
Send A Prayer My Way
Matador