Hauntology pioneer returns with funked-up prog odyssey.
perating at the intersection between hypnagogic electronica, library music and forgotten TV themes, is, by some margin, their grooviest and most accomplished album to date. Author and poet Justin Hopper returns from 2019’s project to deliver a spoken-word antinarrative about the mysteries of the English landscape. But it’s bassist Christopher Budd and drummer Max Saidi who make the biggest difference to the sound, creating a supple and dynamic rhythmic foundation for Jupp’s woozy pastoral melodies. The funky jazz noir soundtracks of Roy Budd are a stated influence, but there’s also more than a hint of Gil Scott-Heron’s in the cool flute and beats of the title track. The swooping synth voices and dramatic bass of recall Jeff Wayne’s War , while could be a Rick Wakeman/Funkadelic mash-up. There’s also a nod to John Barry’s Persuaders theme on . Yet rises above its references and points to a new direction for Belbury Poly.
