28 years on from Joseph K's studio album, The Only Fun In Town, Paul Haig's new work is testament to both his post-punk
heritage and his carnivorous attempts to slot into contemporary musical
existence.
Introductory track 'Trip Out The Rider' manages to embrace both poles with its synth-pop, disco trance agenda and mesmeric electronic beats; a similar approach to that of 'Reason' on 2007 album, Elektronik Audience. 'Relive' opens with a distinctive tangy folk riff, which continues throughout the entirety of the track, only overshadowed by Haig's dry vocals and monotonous, cellular drum bashings.
It's all so surprisingly primitive and raw in texture that it's easily impressed on the brain tissue. Infectious grooves are disorientated and concussed in the following track, 'Ambition'. Piano keys, pasted over thick electro beats and synth effects, strike this with a similar plague to that of Editors. Nevertheless, Haig assumes all power over the instrumentals, but possibly at the cost of the track quality.
There is a welcome return of reverberating basslines and Talking Heads art rock in 'So Contemporary', with the addition of delicate guitar rasgueado. Acoustic track, 'Good Thing', is a refreshing come-back of agitated folk rock, guitar symphonies and Haig's refreshingly un-dubbed, organic vocal clarity; a return to last album Go Out Tonight.
The heavy basslines and guitar with added abrasive strokes make 'Round And Round' a distinctly busy post-punk and funk-filled composition. The album, constantly full of surprises, unfortunately lets itself down with 'Listen To Me': not only is it a cheesy romance ballad, but it manages to drown out the rhythm section with synth and woeful guitar.
Still, there's hope yet. 'Horses', a Pere Ubu cover, is a funky dance track cloaked by a whistling synth tune, creating an oriental sound mix. 'Without A Doubt' is appalling new-wave. 'Eyes Wide Open' finishes the album with a little relief, but with out-of-sync vocals. This work displays Haig's exceptional musicianship but also his disappointingly ambitious Tardis adventuring.
Rating: 3.5/5