Sunday, 28 April 2013

Grudle Bay - Running

(Self-released, 2013)

I've had a historically love-hate relationship with Abingdon electronic duo Grudle Bay, having thoroughly enjoyed their early material whilst loathing moments on their more recent releases. Much to my delight, 'Running' is exactly the kind of airy, carefree white-boy funk that my frontal lobe seems to crave, combining as it does all the most joyous elements of 80s new wave, Daft Punk and Air into an intoxicating five minute chunk. Even the fact that the lyrics are kind of throwaway works wonderfully, the chorus of voices merely providing melody and counter-rhythm to the driving kick-drum and generic disco bassline at the heart of the song. It's not often that you can call a track 'mindless' and mean it as a compliment but this is truly the kind of song you can lost inside of if you just allow its glacial elegance to wash over you. Excellent.

[Originally published in Oxfordshire Music Magazine, issue 22, March 2013]
http://www.musicinoxford.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/OMS-22.pdf

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