Dublin Duck Dispensary
Luanqibazao
Released earlier this year, this LP is the seventh offering in three years from Irishman Bobby Aherne, AKA Dublin Duck Dispensary.
'Luanqibazao' in Chinese means 'a complete mess'. This is quite a fitting description of the album in general - one glorious mish mash of influences and styles. Fusing folk with punk and electronica, all executed in a savage lo-fi production aesthetic, this is a piece that sounds like it has been constructed from the bedroom (which, in fact, i believe it was) of a, lets say eccentric, individual. It possesses a deeply personal quality laden with psychedelic noise and Dadaist lyrics whilst simultaneously lathering the listener in catchy melodies and guitar hooks interwoven with pummeling synth and drum machines - all drenched in acidic distortion.
Luanqibazao is an immensly energetic album; many of the songs are short, snappy bursts that still manage to completely capture the listener. Nonetheless, there is a maturity and self assurance about Aherne's delivery as the music regularly careers between meloncholy and uncontrollable joy, folk and garage punk.
For fans of Islands, Wavves and Ariel Pink.