Kurt Wolf known for his contributions to Noise-rockers Pussy Galore, Loudspeaker and Emma Peel is back with the deliciously creepy Black Bruises collaboration with Brazilian-born multi-instrumentalist Marco Butcher.
Now based in North Carolina, Marco will be familiar to EP readers for his partnership with Inca Babies’ Harry Stafford, resulting in two albums – 2021’s Bone Architecture and last year’s We Are The Perilous Men.
Indeed, Black Bruises is being released on Stafford’s own Black Lagoon label.
Fans of the two men’s oeuvre will not be surprised to learn that this new eight-track long player takes us down a scuzzy path where angels fear to tread.
A world of dodgy flop apartments and grindhouse B-movie horrors, where danger lurks round every corner and lowlifes get their kicks from cheap booze and sleazy sex.
Whispered electronically-treated vocals haunt the album like Deep Throat or a dirty late night phone call from a twisted, mocking stranger.
On songs like, Down The Hall and, Radio Intimacy, a backdrop of squelchy synths and interference combine to create a fetid air of paranoia, of the walls slowly closing in.
But – and it’s testament to the craft of the songwriting in evidence here – melodies rise out of the seething cacophony, like lizards emerging from the primordial ooze.
There are bursts of rockabilly guitar and psych keyboards on the title track and a movie theme-style walking baseline heralds Coffee And Cream, as its unreliable narrator grunts lasciviously “I need some sugar”.
The House, with its glitchy hip-hop scratches and squalling guitars, resembles a mash up of Public Enemy and Tom Waits at his most reptilian.
The nearest they get to a love song, You’ll Be Mine, boasts thumping Big Beat drums and a cool repeating riff over bleeps and blurts of electronica.
Orange County Death Trails is a macabre Blues-stomper, while Fear Providers brings to mind Iggy Pop trying to sing along to one of The Butthole Surfers‘ more deranged offerings.
There’s more enjoyable weirdness on Two Feet High, which sounds like it could have been recorded on a building site, before The Cramps-esque psychobilly of It’s All The Same brings proceedings to a shuddering close.
Wild, warped and tightly plotted, one for those who like their music dark, dirty and cinematic.
Black Bruises limited vinyl edition is out on June 1 via Black Lagoon Records, a digital version of the album is available on Marco’s Bandcamp page here.
