by Connan Mockasin
It’s good to be back in the whimsical world of Connan Mockasin. His latest LP offering Jassbusters continues the charisma - it’s a very personable listen, like hanging out in his LA living room on a sunny day, maybe smoking a blunt.
The lullabies clocks just over half an hour - more than enough to take the edge off your afternoon. The dream pop persona owes much to the Parisian recording studio it was created in - demanding nothing from listeners, offering plenty.
Jassbusters takes its name from a fictional band of music teachers. Mockasin seems to have a thing with creepy tutelage - perhaps a bad experience growing up in NZ? It makes some of the lyrics even creepier - "You can do anything to get good grades, anything". But the melodies keep things light.
He purportedly spent some time on a French island with French pop princess Charlotte Gainsbourg, which culminated in some unreleased tracks apparently discarded by her label as well as a kinky reference to her underwear in the opening track ‘Charlotte’s Thong’. Other music royalty is also involved - James Blake chimes in signature harmonies on ‘Mono’s’ to lift the technical prowess.
Hangover anthem ‘Last Night’ is more Prince than Velvet Underground, with some playful Chris Rock overtones to boot. “I love the way you play, tell me what to do, baby are you true?” Is ether pop a thing?
The seductress of the setlist is ‘B’nd’, with its croony Jim Morrison talk-over (in a good way) that gets a little caracateuristic with US-centric lyrics amid rangey rhythm guitar. Then it’s the lullaby finale ‘Les Be Honest’ to send you off to sleep in a fluffy white soundcloud - ensuring the important leap from the whimsical to the worthwhile is complete.
Out now via all good music sources.
Review by Richard McLeish
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED TRACKS
Timeshare - 'Fingers Crossed Behind Our Back'
Bitch Diesel - 'Void'
Cyanide Thornton - 'Violin Song'
Cool Explosions - 'Runaway'
The Scorpions & Saif Abu Bakr - 'Saat Alfarah'
The Native Cats - 'Olivia'
Rival Consoles - 'Them Is Us'
Michele Mercure - 'An Accident Waiting To Happen'
Populous - 'Alala (El Búho Remix)'
This week's Top 10:
