Smokin’ Cola is an artist who draws from many different genres. In his own words, his music is “a delicious beverage with eclectic flavours…strong notes of indie dad rock, with overtones of hip-hop, new wave, and post-punk”. His new EP ‘Arbutus’ is a quartet of songs exploring how we do – and don’t – fit into society and modern culture.
‘Withdrawal Symptoms’ – A funky rhythm guitar part that is straight out of Nile Rodgers’ playbook, but almost immediately the distortion and fuzz descend on the track, giving it a quiet menace. I really liked the strong groove here and the rumbling bass. The section in the middle, where we just sit in the pocket and enjoy the warm, vibrant sound for a minute or two, is great. And then there’s the vocal – bold and whimsical, full of jerky inflexions and yelping energy. Love it!
‘Animals’ – The drums sound great here as they snap and crack like shattering glass. The fluid bass suits the flow perfectly. A kind of funk-rap vocal wobbles and stutters through the song, giving it a really playful, Red Hot Chilli Peppers vibe.
Don’t be a pig, don’t be a rat,
You must deserve where you’re at,
Mother’s disappointed in you, animals
‘Intentions’ – I thought there was a relaxed, natural, stream-of-consciousness feel to this track that felt like a jam or an improvisational session to me. Funnily enough, after I wrote that sentence, I looked at the lyrics:
This is not the song I’m supposed to sing,
Intentions, like tensions, both make liars of me,
Left foot, right foot, stub your toe, so it goes,
And where the next step takes you, nobody knows
‘Forest Białowieża’ – I loved the electronic/acoustic beat that starts the track. A slightly dissonant mixture of elements adds a disconcerting sheen, where everything feels a little wonky. Strange, theremin-like sci-fi sounds come and go in the background between guitar power chords. Of course, there is another unforgettable vocal that – at times – reminded me of the innocent rhythm of a nursery rhyme!
And there we have it! ‘Arbutus’ covers some serious ground, both lyrically and musically, and I found it gratifyingly unconventional. The flamboyant vocal performance is certainly the star of the show, but to me, this EP has a well-balanced funk character with rock tannins and a fun, playful aftertaste.
Arbutus (noun), 1. A family of flowering plants, often called the strawberry tree. 2. A community in Maryland, hometown of David Byrne. 3. The new EP from Smokin’ Cola
Written by Grubby
