Electric Sound Of Joy

They might not have a lot to learn about the miracle of Krautrock, but Derby's [a]Electric Sound Of Joy[/a] could certainly stand a bit of work on their marketing psychology....

They might not have a lot to learn about the miracle of Krautrock, but Derby’s [a]Electric Sound Of Joy[/a] could certainly stand a bit of work on their marketing psychology. There’s a track on their debut collection of non-threatening experimentation called ‘Don’t Waste Time‘ which – like Cadbury’s deciding on a ‘Don’t Get Fat‘ slogan, or your neighbourhood crack dealer admonishing you, ‘Don’t get addicted‘ – is a case of shutting the front door after the last three hours of your life have bolted.

‘[a]Electric Sound Of Joy[/a]’ is dreamy time-wasting of the highest order, meandering hobby music for the weed-smoking generation who, in another life, might have used allotments and World Wars to occupy the long winter evenings.

Unlike the furrowed brow of most future-facing electronica, ESOJ are playfully childlike – and unusually, not in a way that leaves you hoping they will soon feel the force of pension plans and gout. Along with The Wisdom Of Harry and Plone, they undermine the old clichi that the Germanic sense of humour is a ‘take my modal tone cluster – please!’ kind of an affair.

Familyman‘ might sound like ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You‘ played by a chorus line of fruit machines, the jovial chug of ‘Don’t Waste Time‘ is an uncontrollable giggle at a minimalist symposium, and ‘Night & Day‘ has a gentle dig at Tortoise‘s hefty gravitas – but there’s an inherent calm and clarity to be found here that’s far from being Bentley Rhythm Ace in Baader-Meinhof
Gang beards.

There’s a big world of grand gesture out there, dragons to be fought, dames to be won, theory to digest – but ESOJ are peripheral visionaries. It’s pottering in the garden. A small act of random kindness. A nod, a wink, and a fleeting smile. Yet their very slightness of touch makes this record a thing of beauty and a Joy ’til tea-time.

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