Edward Penfold: Denny Island Drive
There's a lot of artists inspired by that kind of unique pop sound you got from British men in the '70s like Kevin Ayers, John Cale, Brian Eno, etc., but Edward Penfold's Denny Island Drive is a surprising record in that it might be the only one I'm aware of that mines Syd Barrett's solo material so rigorously. Penfold's music is sad, warbly folk rock that will instantly appeal to fans of Barrett's post-Floyd work, and honestly in listening to Denny Island Drive it's a shock that this style of music is so rare. Penfold doesn't seem to have Syd's more demented lyrical streak however, instead telling the kind of sad, clever little short stories with his music that you expect more from the pen of Roy Davies and the Kinks. Denny Island Drive is a perfect short, drizzly little record for a short, drizzly little day, and Mr. Penfold joins other modern popsmiths like The Granite Shore and Arp in using the sounds of the past to line the future.
Insecure Men: Insecure Men
Listening to the incredible second single off of Insecure Men, "Teenage Toy", you might find yourself getting uncomfortable amidst its sparkling pop beauty without being able to explain why. Insecure Men is yet another project featuring the singular, filthy talent of Saul Adamczewski, also of the Fat White Family and The Moonlandingz, this time working with Ben Romans-Hopcraft as a 'stabilizing influence' according to Fat Possum Records. Like those other bands, the Insecure Men explore the seedy side of pop music, in this case synthesizer-driven, vaguely exotica-inspired easy-listening. With Saul's sleazy voice muttering barely-audible come-ons, the band's summery synths give the music an almost Psychic TV type of feel to it, back on the first few albums where the Psychics would pepper their occultist noise with Beach Boys-inspired pop beauty. Moreso than the Fat Whites or the Moonlandingz, it's this type of lovely songcraft that could make Insecure Men a kind of musical depth charge; without a lyric sheet detailing Saul's tales of sex and drugs and mania, listeners won't know why these lovely little gems are making them feel like they need a hot shower until it's too late. The Moonlandingz's Interplanetary Class Classics was my album of the year last year, and while Insecure Men might not reach that esteemed height, it's another vital record from the Fat White's ever-growing collection.
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