Future of the Left
Wow. Check your expectations at the door, because How To Stop Your Brain In An Accident – the fourth long-player from Welsh reprobates Future Of The Left – is an insane voyage down the rabbit hole, an endless gamut of trippy twists and tawdry turns. Their usual unrelenting pace has been superseded by a new respect for nuance and space, including some forays into slow tempo realms, but even these moments are caustic and creepy.
Of course frontman Andy 'Falco' Falkous' awesomely twisted worldview is still proudly prevalent – waved frantically throughout like a pennant at some fucked up pageant – and the stylistic change in how it's musically shrouded doesn't dilute its impact one iota. The lyrics are brilliantly acerbic, targeting a slew of disparate marks and skewering them mercilessly. The stand-out is undoubtedly Singing Of The Bonesaws – a razor-sharp diatribe delivered in a hammy '60s TV presenter voice – although Falco's croon during near-ballad French Lessons is fantastically unnerving, How To Spot A Record Company marries power and precision perfectly and closer Why Aren't I Going To Hell?'s faux-gothic country shtick works wonderfully before descending into relative chaos.
Musically, the recently reconfigured four-piece is in fine fettle – the guitars are requisitely heavy and the rhythm section both in sync and innovative – and they hold nothing back, meaning that the aesthetic risks are richly rewarded as the band's undeniable charm seeps through the carnage. Ballsy, bizarre and brilliant.
