|
Aucklander Andrew Spraggon (aka Sola Rosa) proved with his excellent full-length debut 'Solarized' that downbeat artists from Aotearoa could "foot it" with the international "big boys", gaining overseas notoriety (the track "Don't Leave Home" was licenced for Guidance's Hi-Fidelity Dub Sessions Chapter 4 - alongside the likes of Smith & Mighty, Groove Armada, Boozoo Bajou and Tosca) and selling truck loads domestically. 'Haunted Out-Takes' is the follow-up to 'Solarized' and if you're a fan the news is all good. Gently propulsive yet containing that stuttering dynamic that has become a mainstay with the more intriguing of the contemporary "downbeat" acts, Spraggon ropes in a number of helpers to contribute organic flourishes (trumpet, euphonium, lap steel, bass, vibraphone, percussion, moog, turntables) allowing the music to float freely between the "real" and the "virtual" (ie, sampled) with genuine inventiveness.
As with the previous Sola Rosa releases this album is a real "slowburner", but don't be put of by its pace -like all good downbeat releases 'Haunted' has a genuine cinematic quality which will easily seduce and absorb the willing listener. With wide appeal (from the likes of Calexico through to NZ artists of a similar ilk - Jet Jaguar, Phase 5, SJD - and "downbeat" acts such as Tosca, Peace Orchestra, etc) this album will deservedly infiltrate many collections sooner or later - so why fight it? Recommended. |
