The combination of members of Huggy Bear and Male Bonding as Adulkt Life seemed like an odd one on paper but it works. The group's album, Book of Curses, out now via What's Your Rupture?, is a clattering gem. It's post-punk and DIY indie mixed up into something unique, and something which punches you in the gut and mind.
"Country Pride" rattles with the same sort of energy that powered Eighties Fall sides, while "Whistle Country" is harder still, flashes of The Jesus Lizard here. Elsewhere, "Room Context" and "Taking Hits" have hooks that are faintly similar to some early Male Bonding ones, but Adulkt Life are far, far more unsettled in their approach to indie-rock. What's here is rough by design, and unruly on purpose. For that reason, this brief album is highly recommended, even as a few numbers here (the fake funk of "Stevie K", for one) don't impress as much as others. Still, this is uniformly a fiery release, and one which inspires memories of the era which gave rise to Huggy Bear, if not some of the music from then too.
Book of Curse is out now via What's Your Rupture?.
[Photo: Steve Gullick]