Keeping alive the flame of mostly improvised music in the fields of jazz and rock, up there in Sheffield is one Martin Archer, and his label Discus Music. There is a conglomerate of like-minded radical musicians in the locality who provide a sort of fluid house band for the numerous projects the label has on the go. Three of these musicians appear on Funfair, the fifth album from dub-fusion-Kosmische maestros Das Rad. This heavy combo is led by guitarist Nick Robinson, and supplying the solid rhythm is Steve Dinsdale, and Martin is there too, adding his trusty woodwind to the mix, along with supportive keyboards. The other two no less essential band members are Peter Rophone, whose sometimes startling high register vocals make occasional and impressive appearances, and anchoring the good ship is Jon Short’s rumbling bass playing.
The album contains two medleys, which for convenience are numbered on the CD in sequence with the other tracks. 1-4 is the first medley, 9-13 the second. The whole caboodle comprises 13 tracks of atmospheric and entrancing music, that veers from the Sun Ra-like spacejazz of Lookout Later to the vaguely Oriental-sounding set closer The Empress At Home, with all sorts of Kosmiche derring-do in between.
Opener The Kindly Ones kicks off with a bass riff reminiscent of a more chilled Metal Box-era PiL, to be joined by some snarling guitar from Nick, topped off with synth squiggles, and latterly some woodwind to give it a jazz tinge. Ultimately though, this song is initially a vehicle for Nick’s spiky guitar excursions. Peter’s first vocal leaps out at you at around six minutes in with the attention-grabbing line “Get behind thee, Satan!”, as the song then changes tack into a dark ambience, before seamlessly merging into the second number. This must be fabulous live, but sadly economics no doubt dictates that the few live appearances I was aware of all took place near the band’s base, which is not doable for this soft Southerner. O well, one day maybe…
The Kindly Ones lays Das Rad’s cards on the table, and we’re off on another journey into the recesses of musical imagination, the black corners illuminated by some stellar playing, causing all the beasties lurking there to scuttle off in shocked surprise. Look In is a hymn from an alternative prayer book, multi-layered vocals giving it a madrigal feel, as light shards of guitar flash around the hooded hymnal. Steve and Jon entwined, pick up the pace as the piece flexes its muscles. The drums firing out tribal rhythms, and Peter’s hymn is now flying above it all, but enmeshed within the maelstrom.
Do you get the picture now? Tempting though it may be to describe each track in miniscule detail, that would only spoil the pleasure you would have in listening to it all for the first time. Premature musicalis, if you will. 🙂 What follows is therefore just a few impressions made on this pair of battered lugoles.
For me, funfairs have always held an air of the mysterious about them, something dark below the shiny surface. I felt this as a kid and would probably still do if I ever walked through one these days. That air of the off-kilter is highlighted perfectly by the wonky keyboard sound around which Dream Of Golden Sun is built, providing a perfect vehicle for more of Peter’s fragile but simultaneously strong vocals to do their thang. Martin shines on this number, for as well as that odd keyboard sound he contributes some great sax playing. The song swings in nonchalant fashion, and is about as funky as a bunch of older white guys can get! Marvellous!
We even have a ballad! Next up is One Star Away, which wouldn’t sound out of place on a David Sylvian album. Quite luvvly.
You can tell this band is from oop narth, as a word like Grimbling could only come from the land of Yorkshire Tea, which as we all know, is grown on the tea slopes of Bradford. Or…maybe it didn’t…I looked it up and according to Urban Dictionary…well, I’ll let you find it, it ain’t for the easily offended! As for the song itself, it sets off at a canter (Ha! That Urban Dictionary definition might be right after all!), all guns blazing before deconstructing and then reconvening beyond the far side of the Moon into a psychedelic adventure par excellence!
I am going to say absolutely nothing at all about the medley that concludes the album, and if you’ve read this far, hopefully you’ll be tempted to buy it in order to find out.
TRACKLIST
– Medley:
01. The Kindly Ones (8:11)
02. Look In (10:43)
03. Steps Out Of Line (2:46)
04. Lookout Later (9:06)
05. Dream Of Golden Sun (5:55)
06. One Star Away (4:31)
07. Dissolving In The Mirror (7:36)
08. Grimbling (8:00)
– Medley:
09. Lookout Again (1:27)
10. Funfair (4:38)
11. Impossible Picnic (5:45)
12. Warfair (6:16)
13. The Empress At Home (3:22)
Total Time – 78:16
MUSICIANS
Nick Robinson – Guitars, Mellotron
Steve Dinsdale – Drums, some Keyboards
Peter Rophone – Vocals, Portuguese Guitar
Martin Archer – Keyboards, Woodwind
Jon Short – Bass & Double Bass
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Discus Music
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 30th August 2024
LINKS
Das Rad – Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram
