Stic Basin is the latest outlet for Barry Andrews’ polysyllabic narratives and musings that are propelled along by circular rhythms of computer generated percussion loops and contorted found sound. The disc’s opener, the rather funky “Muarg Muarg”, has Mr. Andrews rabidly barking like a wild-eyed ringmaster for a swamp engulfed carnival. “Down There” is a wailing guitar short of being classic Shriekback, the band he founded over 2 decades ago. Both “Rag And Bone” and the organ wafted “Run No More” showcase his penchant for gospel. Of the handful of intriguing instrumentals, the crescendo “Slope Harviist” is the highlight, reaching a lumbering peak of deep, grinding bass, reverberating snare and piercing keyboard noise before dipping back into a stretch of restrained beats. Stic Basin strives to cause the listener to writhe in their seat or tap their foot on the dancefloor at the same time filling their mind’s eye with vivid images as beautiful as they are disturbing. Good stuff!

www.barryandrews.net