Los Angeles

Lol Tolhurst x Budgie x Jacknife Lee

Los Angeles

Play it again Sam

January 22, 2024
Web Exclusive

By Matt the Crow

If you thought an album by two distinguished drummers – Lol Tolhurst (ex-The Cure) and Budgie (ex-Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Creatures) – would be a heavy sonic assault, you'd be right. Passing it on because of that would be a big mistake. Los Angeles it is heavy but it is also much more. This is mainly due to producer and multi-instrumentalist Garret 'Jacknife' Lee and in part to some admirable and notable guests such as James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem), Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse), Bobby Gillespie (Primal Scream), Arrow de Wilde (Starcrawler) and The Edge (U2).

It's impossible to escape the rolling drum noise that flows throughout the album. But this is no drum machine. It's live drumming at its best and comes in a variety of flavors, speeds and tempos and always with a crackling energy. There are hints of the mystical tribal beats of The Creatures and the dark glam rock developed by Love and Rockets in the late 80s, but the sound is less tropical and decidedly more edgy and aggressive. It takes some patience on the part of the listener, as the songs are long and slowly change over time, even from track to track. But Lee and guests are the wild cards who bring a humanitarian pop feel to the proceedings, making Los Angeles a worthwhile adventure.

album opener “This Is What It Is (To Be Free)” features Bobby Gillespie and sounds like it could be one of the later Flaming Lips albums. Built around a simple, almost danceable beat and catchy bassline, the title track features animated singer James Murphy at his best and is perhaps the best track on the album. The frenetic rhythm of “We Got to Move” perfectly suits Isaac Brock's edgy wave, while “Bodies” exudes a Nick Cave-like bluesy vibe. The Edge offers his chops on the slower and more mysterious “Train with No Station” and the sleazy “Noche Oscura”.

Los Angeles it's a rollercoaster of twists and turns that often dive head first into a frothy mix of paranoid drums, bass, keyboards and guitars with haunting vocals at every turn. But sometimes it's dreamier, slower and more melodic, and it's always done with a melodic ear and it's highly entertaining. Bend over and enjoy the ride. (www.loltolhurst.com)

Author Rating: 7.5/10