If you're a regular round W&H's gaff, you'll probably have heard us waxing lyrical about the brilliant, Pere Ubu-ish sounds of South London's One More Grain. This sadly defunct outfit led by the under-rated sonic savant Daniel Patrick Quinn made two terrific albums, 'Pigeon English' (2007) and 2008's 'Isle of Grain' and garnered heaps of praise (including a Sunday Times 'Left Field Album of the Year') before prematurely imploding last summer.
DPQ'S current whereabouts are unknown to this reviewer, but thankfully OMG's free expression pop mantle has been taken on by the band's very own Allen Ravenstine, Mr. Andrew Blick. Provider of trumpets, samples and sonic tweaking par excellence, Blick has hooked up with several like-minded explorers including ex-OMG drummer Laurie Waller, guitarist James Weaver and multi-instrumentalist Robin Blick. Cue THE GYRATORY SYSTEM: a bunch of sonic Knut Amundsens if ever there was, keen to undertake unlikely, but fascinating sonic journeys to the heart of the pole.
This Double-A downloader is the first 'official' fruits of their labour and it's excellent. 'Baron's Court Turret' is blippy, but melodic and eminently playful post-pop fare which slides down remarkably easily. Blick's horn lines bob and weave, with the band soon sliding in behind and filling in a canvas akin that's equal parts Berlin-era Bowie, Yello and the offspring of OMG's fearless experimentation.
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Second tune 'Thermidor' is equally inspiring. This one wallows in a faux-Eastern, trance-like feel with insistent rhythms, snake-charming horn motifs and Laurie Waller's dead-on, Jackie Leibezeit-style drumming powering it ever onwards. It's a satisfying electro-organic melange and one this writer hopes he'll be hearing a lot more of soon.
Like One More Grain, The Gyratory System use sound in an intelligent and inspiring fashion. They meld elements of electronica, dub and dance, but ultimately lay out something that's manna for the open-minded. 'Tis a fine thing and it's very much their own right now.
(http://www.gyratorysystem.com)
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