Junip – Junip [City Slang]

Junip is a collaboration, a trio, of José González, Elias Araya and Tobias Winterkorn. I already knew that much and I’d kinda filed it away under ‘Probably flamenco styled guitars – will be whimsical and fey – listen to later‘: and then promptly did precisely nothing to follow up my good intention.

When I finally got my head out of my ass, I couldn’t have been more wrong. To keep it brief and to the point, this album is awesome. The whole record broods along so very satisfyingly. While the musical antecedents are undoubtedly of the fat-bodied guitar persuasion, the sound rumbles through the speakers with menace enough for that moment in the dance tent that presages the inevitable slow slide into come-down. If I had to describe it further, I might use the word folktronica, although I’d then have to explain that by this would mean it had obsessive-compulsive percussion and a back wash like a swamp, and was very close to my heart after even the first listen. There’s a moment very early on in the first track that recalls Moby at his very best, but then the music of this threesome goes on to expand sideways and forwards right the way through the record.

The vocals are those of González (with Elias Araya on drums and Tobias Winterkorn on keys) and even this threw me. I’ve in the past been in the front row for González and come away underwhelmed. Here…voice is always a matter of taste….so let’s just say that I’m his biggest newest fan. It’s as though the stricture of this new format forces out a deeper, hitherto seldom seen side of the man.

The video below is for ‘Your Life, Your Call’. It tells the story of a life lived under false pretences and therefore slowly and by degrees lost by inaction. I tend to think that even if you didn’t understand a word of the lyrics, that sad torpor would even then be coming across in waves.

Release date 22 April 2013

[Rating:4]