Surprise Chef – ‘Superb’ album review: Eclectic, soulful, and compelling instrumentals from Australia
THE SKINNY: Instrumental music is not often afforded the same kind of respect and adoration as its vocal counterpart, but there is an entire world of groundbreaking, inventive instrumental music out there for those willing to listen. Since 2017, Australia‘s Surprise Chef has been one of the world’s premier proprietors of this instrumental mastery.
Over the course of three albums, along with a few collaborations and remixes, the Melbourne outfit has expertly crafted their niche of creating eclectic, hip-hop-infused, and endlessly inventive instrumental anthems. Now, the band have unleashed their latest effort, Superb, which expands upon their ever-growing repertoire of sound.
One of the first things that strikes you about Superb is how packed it is with ideas and influences. At 11 tracks, the album is pretty average in length, but within that timeframe, the band manage to incorporate everything from old-school soul instrumentals to an unnatural blending of hip-hop sensibilities with Middle Eastern folk and psychedelia. By all logic, many of these genre-fusing efforts should never work, but there is no denying the commanding groove which flows throughout the entirety of the track listing.
As an exclusively instrumental outfit, it would be very easy for Superb to become lost in itself over the course of the album’s runtime. However, the track listing is laid out beautifully, giving the album a coherent flow of ideas while simultaneously keeping things fresh and alive. Each track adopts a different atmosphere and range of influences, which keeps the audience engrossed. Given that the record takes cues from exotica, lounge music, and retro Afrocuban rhythms, it would be easy to compare Superb to the extensive landscape of library music, but, in truth, it is far too compelling and immersive to pass as ‘background music’.
That is not to say, however, that the record does not continue the band’s penchant for crafting lush, cinematic soundscapes – if anything, this record might be their finest effort yet, in that regard. However, the blistering performances delivered by the band are simply too awe-inspiring to blend into the background. The percussion work of Andrew Congues, for instance, is a notable highlight throughout this album, perfectly bridging the gap between the band’s appreciation of funk and soul with the sounds of contemporary hip-hop and neo-soul.
For fans of: Neglecting all of your friends and relationships in order to spend more time searching for drum breaks in crates of old soul records.
A concluding comment from a collector of library music: “Instrumental music is supposed to fade into the background! How am I supposed to soundtrack my next dinner party with this? It is far too interesting.”
Superb track by track:
Release date: May 16th | Producer: Henry Jenkins | Label: Big Crown Records
‘Sleep Dreams’: As the title implies, Surprise Chef adopts a dream-like state on this album’s opening track, borrowing heavily from the landscape of Middle Eastern folk and funk and combining that with a soulful R&B beat which expertly whisks the listener away into the Aussie band’s expansive world. [4.5/5]
‘Bully Ball’: An effortlessly cool track which plays upon the influence of old-school instrumental soul, ‘Bully Ball’ is built around a repeated bass-heavy riff on the keys, harking back to the band’s hip-hop leanings to create something that expertly spans genres and generations. [4/5]
‘Body Slam’: Markedly more low-key than the previous two offerings, ‘Body Slam’ opts for a lush, cinematic atmosphere with moments of suspenseful darkness, reflecting the violent connotations of its title. While not a bad track by any means, ‘Body Slam’ fails to retain the same captivating energy as other inclusions on this record. [3/5]
‘Consulate Case’: Picking up the energy levels, Superb Chef proves their ability to keep things rolling and keep the atmosphere of the album fresh and exciting. Drawing upon everything from funk electronica to cumbia rhythms, it is as eclectic in sound as it is commanding on the dancefloor. [4/5]
‘Dangerous’: Harking back to lounge and exotica, gentle keys give this track a sun-soaked atmosphere to battle the grey skies outside. What’s more, its multiple moments of raw, spontaneous expression allow this effort to escape its ‘easy listening’ atmosphere to reach for something much more captivating. [4.5/5]
‘Websites’: As we reach the halfway point of Superb, the band lean more heavily into their electronic influences, creating a smooth, jazz-influenced odyssey which feels like a blending of old-school artists like Jimmy Smith and the modern world of hip-hop beats and neo-soul – it shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does. [4/5]
‘Fare Evader’: Awash with all the retro groove of golden age funk, this track boasts an endlessly commanding rhythm, marrying the ever-connected worlds of funk and hip-hop with typical Surprise Chef grace. [3.5/5]
‘Tag Dag’: One of the album’s standout moments, ‘Tag Dag’ draws upon various influences from soul to the timeless cool of Anatolian and Middle Eastern psych-folk, culminating in something which feels as though it was lifted straight from the soundtrack of a 1970s detective thriller, in all the best ways. [4.5/5]
‘Plumb Tuckered’: Andrew Congues’ percussion work is key to this record, and features prominently on virtually every moment. However, this particular track sees his drumming skills thrust into the limelight, with captivating results. [4/5]
‘Dreamer’s Disease’: Continuing the dream-like state commenced by the album’s opener, Surprise Chef opt for spaced-out, laid-back instrumentation on the penultimate track, showcasing the unparalleled diversity of their offerings. [4/5]
‘Slippery Dip’: Closing out this expansive collection of instrumental excellence, the band opt for a groovy, bass-heavy anthem which expertly captures the inherent appeal of their unique sound, and the wealth of different influences included on this album. [3.5/5]
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