French football legend Eric Cantona leads this week’s new music releases with his debut album. We also take a gander at new LPs by Black Crowes, Lamb Of God, Kim Gordon and the incredible James Blake
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
ERIC CANTONA / Perfect Imperfection ***
Can King Eric rule over the charts as he once did the football pitch? The former Manchester United idol’s full length debut shifts between English and French, opting for ambiance over melody, his gruff baritone unloading poetic sermons on the state of world apathy and its inability to love. This works far better in his mother tongue where the jazzy couplets and Gallic sighs imitate peak Serge Gainsbourg.
The music offers more upbeat variety than previous EPs, coupled with the right amount of musical kookiness to chaperone Cantona’s pensive meditations. He champions the “ordinary worker” on spy-fi lounge gem Droights and sensitively recruits operatic voices to alleviate the damage that unfolds during Dechirures. It’s a thoughtful collection, encouraging hope and defiance on We’ll Believe In Ourselves, reminiscent of Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ in sentiment – albeit with more of an Inspector Clouseau twang!
Some giggled at the idea of Cantona becoming a singer and there are moments when his thick accent becomes a cliche. Nevertheless you have to admire the courage and, if you squint, you’ll hear elements of other famous chanteurs – the growl of Tom Waits and even a dash of Jim Morrison. It’s far from perfect and his range is severely limited, but there’s an intensity which is captivating.
THE BLACK CROWES / A Pound Of Feathers ***
The missing link between the Rolling Stones and Aerosmith, brothers Chris and Rich Robinson have perfected their brand of Black Daniels laced rawk. Recorded in just ten days, this timeless no-frills collection is up there with their best work as they unashamedly lean into good-time riffs and well oiled country blues hooks, with little or no deviation.
Sure it’s derivative to the max, but still impossible not to shake your tail feather to earthy pub rockers Cruel Streak and the pounding It’s Like That. For a while it seemed toxic sibling rivalry would get the better of the Robinsons, but – like Oasis – middle age seems to suit their no nonsense strut.
JAMES BLAKE / Trying Times *****
Not just a reflection on current affairs, Trying Times is the culmination of Blake navigating the complexities of becoming an independent artist, in demand collaborator and above average human being. He’s always been in tune with emotion, but this bountiful seventh album is banquet for the soul.
Blake finds a way of tapping into the darkest corners of the subconscious, delivering a guttural punch early with the phrase ‘you’re no good to anyone, dead’ haunting opener Walk Out Music. It’s musical therapy for Blake who feels “shredded” like “polystyrene foam” on the wondrous title track, then flitting between electronic and analogue on life-affirming banger Rest Of Your Life. Blake’s angelic harmonies shine, but it’s his honesty that cuts deepest.
LAMB OF GOD / Into Oblivion ***
Bid a fond farewell to ear drums, as the metal titans unleash an unforgiving barrage of riffs and growls on their first LP in four years. Surrender to the pummelling as sticksman Art Cruz’s kick pedal mutates into a machine gun to underpin the fury of the title track, and never runs out of ammunition for the ensuing 40 minutes.
The rest of the band keep pace flawlessly, with bearish and a tad tetchy frontman Randy Blythe sounding as fierce as ever roaring “I am immortal” over the explosive Thousand Years; you’re inclined to believe him. The tempo subtly shifts for Devise / Destroy Thousand and slow-building St Catherine’s Wheel, but this band don’t do ballads and any hint of romance will be banged out of your head.
KIM GORDON / Play Me ****
Rocking dishevelled chic, Gordon’s forged an entire career sounding like she’s just survived a major trauma, this time the trauma focuses on the erosion of democracy and toxic masculinity. As with past solo work Play Me owes more to hip hop than indie rock, the title track’s brassy sampladelic backing track caressing Gordon’s interior monologue.
You feel her anger boiling over as she scrutinises societal male fantasies on Girl With A Look, the mood then free-falling into the fuzzy pitch-black abyss of Nail Biter. It’s reminiscent of Beck’s more free-wheeling albums, where electronics and, in the case of Busy Bee, a recycled interview sample from the 1990s deliver unusual musicality (with a little help from Dave Grohl on drums). A kind of musical art installation, Play Me loud and proud.
STREAM THIS WEEK
THUNDERCAT / Thunderwave
NOAH KAHAN / Porch Light
YONAKA / Until You’re Satisfied
KACEY MUSGRAVES / Dry Spell
PUSSYCAT DOLLS / Club Song
FREYA RIDINGS / I Have Always Loved You
FUTURE UTOPIA / Spiritual Machines
BOO RADLEYS / Bring Them Back Again
CROZ BOYCE / Hanging Out With a Blueberry Pop
THE LEMON TWIGS / I Just Can’t Get Over Losing You
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