Jack Rubies

Clocks Are Out Of Time

Big Stir, 2023

10/10

Listen to Clocks Are Out Of Time

The first album from the UK post-punk outfit Jack Rubies in over 3 decades, Clocks Are Out Of Time has all the original members on hand for both rhythmic and tense ideas across the 12 tracks.

“Hark” gets the listen off to a collaborative start, where Peter Maxted’s precise drums suit the guest keyboards from Doc Durston for some darker spirited ideas, and “Heaven Shook Me” follows with Steve Brockway’s throbbing bass amid the swirling guitars for both melodic and lush songwriting.

In the middle, Jason Cornock steps up to the drums for a cautious, thumping climate that pays close attention to mood across “Chandelier”, while “Corrupted” welcomes Cat Henry’s backing vocals to the buzzing and charged riffs from SD Ineson.

Landing close to the end, “Shark Attack” spotlights acoustic guitar amid some intimacy, as ruggedness also enters, and “I’ll Give You More” exits with a dreamy demeanor of rich and layered bouts that you can’t not be impressed with.

Ian Wright’s vocals and guitar work is exceptional here, and along with Lawrence Giltnane’s percussion and the rest of the band’s respective talents, this is a triumphant return for a band who go back to the English C86 days and whose ominous grooves and push and pull dynamics are still top notch.

Travels well with: Shplang- Thank You, Valued Customer; The Incurables- Inside Out & Backwards