Bone Architecture
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
You might recall Harry Stafford from the seminal outfit Inca Babies, and here along with the multi-instrumentalist Marco Butcher he brings us a dozen very diverse tunes that straddle the dirty blues, punk ideas and fuzzy jazz rock.
The title track opens the listen with thumping drums and firm keys alongside Stafford’s mysterious voice in the slightly ominous climate, and “Look Behind You, Look Again” follows with a hazy appeal of textures that touch on Stafford’s post-punk days.
Further along, the calmer presence of “The Sun And The Sky” emits a distinct intimacy via the crisp drums, warm keys, spirited guitar and expressive singing, while “The Worst In Me” is dance floor ready via the playful guitar and frisky drums.
“Horror Film House” and “Arnold Layne” exit the listen, where the former is a bit spooky and carries a cinematic quality, and the latter is more indebted to the early days of indie-rock thanks to its lo-fi qualities and dreamy melodies.
A listen that injects blues, gothic sensibilities and garage rock into a very unique version of rock, Stafford and Butcher’s help from Kevin Davy (horns) and Wasted Pido (guitar) only makes this an even more interesting body of work.
Travels well with: CR & The Nones- The Ghosts Are Coming Home; The Mystery Plan- You Also Have Eyes