– THE CHARM OFFENSIVE –

Vulture St Tape Gang’s new album is entitled Mature Themes for Childish People. But it could just as well be retitled Childlike Musical Exploration Within Mature Genres.

After all, as evidenced on Pretty, the band clearly have seriously well-developed jazz, funk, electronica and hip-hop chops but are more than happy to eclipse them in favour of fun-loving experimentation.

Which is bang alright with me.

From the Thundercat-style bass runs to the trippy, trappy drum lines of Myka Wallace, to the barbershop harmonies of synth player Mike Medleycott and vocalist Lachlan James Mitchell (who – apparently – used to be in a barbershop band called the Melatonins, the demise of which provided the inspiration to start the Tape Gang) the song is chock-full of – and bursting at the seams with – ideas.

“You’re pretty. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty… shit at love” tease the Brisbane trio in the sweetest falsettos this side of those poor Italian lads who had their nads chopped off back in the day.

Elsewhere on the Hiatus Kaiyote- produced record are, in the band’s own words “kooky rap songs about cunnilingus, ouija board RnB odes to D’Angelo and tropical tinged woozy tales of spaceship seduction”.

So, you know, if that’s your thing (and who doesn’t specifically seek out records that exclusively fulfil those criteria), check out Mature Themes for Childish People which was released last week.

MORE FROM THIS WEEK’S MIX:

GUNNA: WHO YOU FOOLIN
RESAVOIR: ESCALATOR (DEMO VERSION)
THEO CROKER: SUBCONSCIOUS FLIRTATIONS AND TITILLATIONS
PREFAB SPROUT: I TRAWL THE MEGAHERTZ

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 –