Mum Smokes
Track: At The Gate
1 Track, Track (2009, Sensory Projects/Inertia)
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So scarce have their appearances been - both live and on record - that when Mum Smokes decide to make a fleeting cameo, it’s as momentous as Hitchcock walking his dogs. ‘At The Gate’ is the first taste of their forthcoming double album, House Music/*Easy*; a hauntingly beautiful track that’s accompanied by a video clip recalling ’80s arcade classic Galaga. Directed by artist Mark Rodda, the clip re-imagines Galaga’s space ship hero as some sort of skate-like creature battling leaves, flowers and bugs over a constantly changing naturalistic setting. It’s really the perfect accompaniment to this track, which skittles along hypnotically to Justin Fuller’s irregularly paced beats.
More Gary Young than Steve West, Fuller is drummer with feel. He lets the track ebb and flow naturally instead of letting rigid time frames get in the way. There’s a noted speed up about 40 seconds in, but it’s a selling point rather than a blip. Combined with Julian Patterson’s downcast vocals, Flying Nun guitars, spidery basslines courtesy of Karl Scullin (aka Kes) and a face-melting solo towards the end, it makes for one of the best tracks of the year.
And, yes, I realise it’s only Feb.
by Darren Levin
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