★★★☆
Requiemis a menagerie of sound and colour, a record that combines world instruments with catchy licks, creating a cascade of good vibes and chill beats in the process.
‘I Sing In Silence’ is anything but silent: it’s a cacophony of colourful instrumentation and united voices creating a truly sterile ambience, a chill song that speaks of unity without ever being patronising in its message or tinny in its sound.
Vibrant number ‘Trouble In The Streets’ speaks of idealistic ways amidst troubled times, though unfortunately has no power or oomph behind it, and lacks the passion that would be needed to truly drive the track home.
Indeed, it’s from this point that the lyrics get progressively indiscernible: as the album continues, all vocal sense is lost in a raspy shriek, proving chant-like and scratchy. The band gets a little edgy with ‘Goatfuzz’, the extended instrumental outro quite lovely and setting up for standout track ‘Goodbye’. That tune in particular is vibrant and full of life, the kind of tune that will transport you far away.
But ultimately the downside to this release is the repetition: it’s quite samey, unoriginal in its structure and style.
Goat’sRequiem is out now onRocket Recordings.
