Waking up earlier this morning to a cacophony of birdsong and defying the ever-present hangover magnets that must be installed under my bed, I managed to draw back the curtains. I breathed in the hot pollen heavy air of a fine July morning and made a cursory survey of the beer-can strewn wasteland that used to be my back lawn.
The barbecue was still smoldering with the remnants of the garden fence and someone had lobbed a plastic chair into my neighbour’s tree. It still hangs reproachfully from an upper branch; pointing a large white plastic finger disdainfully at me.
It’s not my fault though. It’s that new Junk Culture EP that did it!
The title track Summer Friends was the catalyst. Right from the start I could tell that the weird calypso-tinged sample pop was making people do funny things. The fusion of psychedelic keys, samples, video game noise and sing-along hooks is party music for new-born lambs on helium. What was I thinking?
Junk Culture’s creative heart is a chap called Deepak Mantena from Oxford, MI. Deepak signed with indie label Illegal Art in 2009 to release his debut, West Coast. Their live shows are known for their dynamism and joyful stitching together of genres combined with bold pop experimentation in line with the likes of Animal Collective.
Junk Culture make a heady and potent musical backdrop to summer mayhem. You may not be listening to this during your quieter moments - but it's a powerful sonic clout for your manic hours. Just be careful of playing it at your own backyard party, christening or bar-mitzvah - or at least tie the furniture down first.
PS> Fans of this sort of thing will positively go loopy for SNH’s hot summer tips Fishing, playing live at the Old Blue Last, July 14.
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