The second album from this jangly yet surreal Canadian indie rock quartet matures ever so slightly with more intentional pacing and understated arrangements.
The Belfast-raised duo continue delivering their distinctive, high-impact blend of garage, house, trance, and other styles on their second full-length.
Dominique Purdy's second Stones Throw LP is a fascinating autobiography, vividly describing his upbringing in the Koreatown district of Los Angeles. The self-produced album is a dense, psychedelic epic loaded with surprise left turns, playful nostalgia, and supporting roles by an extensive cast of guests, with an ambitious scope and surreal sense of humor recalling masters like Prince Paul, Madlib, and the Pharcyde. The cover art plainly spells out the album's plot: Purdy was in two car accidents as a child, causing him to have frequent nosebleeds, and these early traumas shapes his perspective on life, as well as his spiritual awareness.
The churning, swampy masses of atonal funk that comprised Miles Davis's 1972 album On The Corner initially appalled jazz purists and were largely overlooked by fans of rock and soul. Listening to the material that producer Teo Macero fashioned into the final album confirms just how adventurous and genre-spanning this music was; no one else was making music quite like this in 1972, and it's still challenging, deeply rewarding listening.