O. – ‘WeirdOs’ album review: a raucous debut from the jazz metal duo
THE SKINNY: The saxophone has always been an incredibly versatile instrument, capable of both pop romanticism, à la ‘Careless Whisper’, and the spaced-out world of spiritual jazz, à la Pharaoh Sanders. The latest group to espouse the versatility and joy of the humble saxophone is O., the South London duo orchestrating a jazz metal revolution using only baritone sax, drums, and a dance music sensibility. Their debut album WeirdOs is a genre-defying, raucous experiment which sounds surprisingly colossal despite the lack of personnel within the band’s line-up.
WeirdOs is an incredibly impressive debut record, with the duo – made up of Joe Henwood on sax and Tash Keary on drums – establish an incredibly polished, yet spontaneous sound, the likes of which you might expect from a band with years of experience in the game. This is not the first time that jazz, metal and electronica have been blended together, parts of the record hark back to the strange psychedelia of groups like The Evil Usses, for instance, but it is certainly the first time such a feat has been achieved to such a high standard.
As the tracklisting progresses, the pair demonstrate a masterful ability to change the entire atmosphere and tempo of a song on a sixpence, without it ever feeling too jarring. Cinematic and atmospheric openings on tracks like ‘Wheezy’ or ‘Whammy’ draw the listener in before hitting them with an all-out sonic assault on the senses, with the distorted tones of Henwood’s baritone sax and the driving energy of Keary’s drums coming together to create something both infectious and slightly scary. Sprinkled among the menagerie of sound are hints at dance music, with the junglist leanings of ‘Micro’ a particular highlight across the album.
Of course, the album has a lot to thank of Dan Carey and Speedy Wunderground, who succeeds in bringing a degree of legitimacy and polished professionalism to the album without ever losing its sense of spontaneity and improvisation. The production on this record is near flawless and, although many of the songs follow similar themes and moods, WeirdOs rarely feels repetitive or stale. In fact, the ordering of the tracklisting means that, as a listener, you are continuously on your toes, waiting for Keary and Henwood to throw the next curveball in your direction.
For fans of: Brimless hats, mango IPAs, and obsessively looking at pedalboards during live shows.
A concluding comment from a Come Dine With Me contestant: This album was in the ‘jazz’ section, so I bought it for my dinner party, but now all of my guests are two-stepping and my dining room suite has been destroyed by a mosh pit.
WeirdOs track by track:
Release date: June 21st | Producer: Dan Carey | Label: Speedy Wunderground
‘Intro’: Although it might not be fair to judge an intro track as a song in its own right, the opener does an excellent job of setting an uneasy, unpredictable tone for the remainder of the album. The rising intensity of the track flows very well into the first ‘proper’ song too. [3/5]
‘176’: A song which is incredibly hard to sit still while listening to. The distorted sax, which O. have become synonymous with, is out in full force, coupled with a driving drum beat and an endearing intensity. [3.5/5]
‘TV Dinners’: There is an unpredictability about every track on this album that causes the listener to stay firmly on their toes throughout. On this song, in particular, the duo showcase their innate ability to change the speed and atmosphere of an entire track on a sixpence. [3.5/5]
‘Wheezy’: Imbued with an almost cinematic quality, this track helps to show that O. are not tied indefinitely to one distinct sound. The creepy, experimental stylings at the beginning of this song are a particular highlight across the tracklisting. [4/5]
‘Micro’: The extraterrestrial F1 beginnings of this track soon give way to an undeniably infectious collection of jungle-esque breakbeats. O. are equally as capable of creating complex cinematic soundscapes as they are high-octane party bangers. [4/5]
‘Cosmo’: Does what it says on the tin, really. This track sounds like the music of some faraway planet across the cosmos, where aliens sit around drinking cocktails and listening to strange space jazz electronica. [3.5/5]
‘Green Shirt’: O. are at their most raucous and energetic on this blistering track. At only two minutes long, ‘Green Shirt’ compels you to reach for that ‘repeat’ button more than a few times. [4.5/5]
‘Whammy’: The extended intro to this track gives the impression of a mellow, old-school jazz track, before slowly descending into the bizarre metal jazz that the duo have become known for. [3.5/5]
‘Sugarfish’: Despite continuing with their distinctive and unique sound, the ordering of tracks on this album prevents WeirdOs from ever feeling too stale or repetitive. This is another track that is sure to get you moving, whether you like it or not. [4/5]
‘Slap Juice’: Finishing the album with a wave of adrenaline, ‘Slap Juice’ is a strange blend of sludge metal, noise rock and jazz saxophone that should really not work as well as it does. [4.5/5]
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