– GUERRILLA WARFARE –

corto.alto is really the brainchild of Scottish trombonist-cum-guitar player/composer Liam Shortall and his Collective’s approach to writing and recording is really rather bizarre.

The band are currently in the middle of a project aimed at releasing a video-single to YouTube every three weeks for a year.

However, the kicker is that, by Shortall’s own admission, the tracks are usually only conceived a week before being recorded and given roughly an hour’s practise with the band.

Oh, and they’re all recorded in his flat on Glasgow’s ‘strip’ above some of the city’s busiest clubs.

And yet – as is evidenced on Better – the songs’ DIY origins are not in any way apparent on the final recordings and the tracks themselves are bonafide jams of the highest technical order.

Witness the regular stops and vocal runs that are reminiscent of Human Bloom’s Capillary. Or Peru Eizagurre’s super-quick triplets on the drums. Or the funky fresh horns interlude in the middle. Or the key change for, like, one bar just before the outro. Man, this shit is crazy.

Or you could just kick back and savour the cool nu-soul vibes coming in your ears, which is what I think I’ll do.

Better features on the EP, Live from 435 Volume 1, which is out now. Subscribe to the band’s YouTube channel to keep up.

MORE FROM THIS WEEK’S MIX

ABEKEJSER: FLOATING THROUGH THE UNIVERSE
MOSES SUMNEY: VIRILE
PLATIMO: HOPE VALLEY
FKA TWIGS: HOLY TERRAIN

P.S. You can find all of the tracks reviewed above in the 45 Revolutions per Minute playlist below or click to access the 45 RPM Playlist on Spotify itself.

If you like what you hear (or even if you don’t), please engage in dialogue with me @45rpm_Reviews on Twitter. And, if you’d like to receive updates weekly, please subscribe to the email list to get these recommendations sent to your inbox weekly.

– SV –