New York politically charged acid rock four piece Sunwatchers like to rope in many friends whenever they hit the studio, ‘Illegal Moves’ proving no exception. Fusing psychedelic rock, funk and experimental jazz complete with an art school twist, the band’s second effort is released on independent ‘Trouble in Mind’ Records, a label whose roster is sufficiently varied to include both Ultimate Painting and Del Shannon.
‘Illegal Moves’ comprises a bunch of instrumentals that wouldn’t sound out of place on either of the first two Roxy Music albums, imagine Ferry tied up by Eno and thrown into the broom cupboard at London’s Command Studios; the alternative end results perhaps sounding not dissimilar to what we have here.
Their claim to stand in solidarity with the dispossessed, impoverished and embattled people of the word may win them admirers, this seven track stick-it-to-the-man collection on what is the band’s second release comes, bookended by a brace of blues numbers, Setting you controls for the heart of the sun, opener ‘New Dad Blues’, mixes urgent grooves, Jim Mc Hugh’s furious guitar and dissonant saxophone courtesy of Jeff Tobias.
The propulsive vibe continues with ‘Beautiful Crystals’ the band’s rhythm section of Peter Kerlin (Bass) and Jason Robira (Drums) grabbing the listener by the short and curlies, hurtling you forward into the black hole abyss. In contrast closer ‘Strollin’ Coma Blues’, proves an altogether more laid back affair boasting a more authentically rootsy feel, lopsided slide guitar dragged reluctantly along by a lumbering percussive shuffle, before descending into chaos at the outro.
The propulsive vibe continues with ‘Beautiful Crystals’ the band’s rhythm section of Peter Kerlin (Bass) and Jason Robira (Drums) grabbing the listener by the short and curlies, hurtling you forward into the black hole abyss. In contrast closer ‘Strollin’ Coma Blues’, proves an altogether more laid back affair boasting a more authentically rootsy feel, lopsided slide guitar dragged reluctantly along by a lumbering percussive shuffle, before descending into chaos at the outro.
Words - Mike Price
