Dan Hillier
The first body of work from the solo project of Modern Ritual’s Rob Hollamby, Legendary Parties isn’t a record that isn’t as jubilant as it’s namesake implies. At least not thematically. Inspired and documenting how the best among us are working soulless jobs beneath corporate overlords, Legendary Parties probes how those find solace through via healthy and damaging means. As one can imagine, a record produced during a period of unemployment amidst a cost of living crisis exploring people finding help through the bottom of a bottle may not sound entertaining – or even remotely appealing – right now. But yet, it is. With members of Modern Rituals, Cassels and The New Tusk lending their skills to help enliven Hollumbay’s vision, Legendary Parties is a witty, charming and very wordy celebration of the sum of it’s musical components.
Opener ‘Ernesto Plays Guitar’ immediately showcases Fuzzy Heart’s influences, albeit in a way that’s courteous. Articulated with the wordy and charismatic charm of the aforementioned Weakerthans and expressed with the unfiltered yet poetic British vulnerability synonymous with acts such as Me Rex and Regal Cheer, the track see’s Fuzzy Heart treading the line between tender indie and the kind of full-frontal fuzzed rock that could be a product of the early naughties. Yet, this tightrope act is one of elegance and composure.
As Fuzzy Heart tells the tale of a despondent disc jockey forced into a musical niche they have no interest in, they weave a musical account composed of two musical stylings that have often counteracted one another. As highlighted to further extent with the proceeding rowdy title-track – an ode to the timeless joys of getting fucked up to escape one’s problems – the sound of this record is one of both ponderous and introspective ennui expressed with ever-so slight musical debauchery. Granted, this meeting of stylings is one of subtle politeness, not a hedonistic riot in the slightest, but it’s still a fun example of genre dynamism.
The latter segment of this EP is where Fuzzy Heart introduce new hues to their musical palette. The hazy and lethargic ‘WFM, Listening To Smog’ perpetually captures the apathy and disillusion that comes from having to work an uninspiring job from the confines of your own home, especially with the as the droning electronic organ present underlining the track’s decaffeinated riff. The indie-rock romp of ‘Full Of Stars – another ode to seeking solace via chemical means – returns to the finely tuned balancing act of the two opening tracks of this record.
It’s the closing nature of ‘From A Thameslink Luggage Rack’ that stands as this EP’s finest hour however. Delicate, multi-faced and rich in it’s storytelling as it explores a last commute following a redundancy, the track resonates a sense vulnerability within it’s textured approach that bares thoughts of both Non Canon and Muttering as it progresses. It’s a far cry from the tales of indulgence that chapters this record, but with it’s poetic narrative, engaging shifting chord progression and shifting keys, the track a brilliant inclusion that further expands on the record’s focus on the ills of working life.
In all, anyone who has experienced the pains of monotonous office live – or attempted to alleviate the pains it leaves in it’ wake through chemical excess – will find plenty to resonate with here. With it’s gentle dynamism and poetic vulnerability, Fuzzy Heart have moulded an EP that truly will be a comfort on those early Monday commutes to another forgettable day spent at a desk.