Glen Porter’s second album was always going to be one to watch for. Project Mooncircle have come to the party to blackmail us into buying the 7” vinyl single containing the tracks ’5 a.m.’ and ‘Need Itself Part 2′ – two slices of exquisite drum tracks underscored by Glen Porter’s signature guitar licks, growling bass, subtle electronics and quirky spoken word samples. Once you have that vinyl in your hands, you can then download the whole album for free.
The album is a fantastic listen from the first note. The grim spoken word samples add an air of intrigue, but it’s the interplay of guitar and drums that astound. ‘And Death Of’ and ‘Broadcast’ roll in every sense, taking influence from rock as much as it does from hip-hop. ‘Days 2 Come’ digs deep into soundtrack territory somewhere between John Barry and David Lynch (is that Mr. Lynch with some words of wisdom too?), eventually breaking down into a serene and surreal interplay of drums and strings before the breaks roll back in.
‘Goodbye’ gets back to basics with processed guitar and drums, leaving the impression that that’s all Glen Porter needs to make a good track. ‘Hands Without Eye’ plods along nicely, the acoustic guitar squarely at the front of the mix with an almost ghostly male vocal riding the almost dirge. ‘Need Itself’ – the prequel to the version on the 7” – comes over with harder drums for a brief time, while ‘Suffer’ tells tales of exactly that: using some great spoken samples from what sounds like an Australian film, but I’ll leave that one for you to spot.
Glen Porter does cut the tracks with some of the same template as his debut album, but this does not distract from the originality this album contains. The few familiarities simply allow for easier access, allowing you to sit back and enjoy the journey. Available to download if you just want the album too.
Another great release on one of the best independent labels of the moment.
Wayne Stronell
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