Stephen Malkmus – Groove Denied //Domino// (Released 15th March)

Description

£22.99 – Indies Only Clear Vinyl LP

£21.99 – Standard LP

The rumours are true: the secret electronic album that (former Pavement frontman) Stephen Malkmus has been telling everyone about will see the light of day. But Groove Denied is not a full-blown plunge into EDM or hiptronica. In fact, there aren’t any purely instrumental tracks on the album. Every song is precisely that: a song, featuring Malkmus staples like an artfully askew melody and an oblique lyric. Groove Denied is Stephen playing hooky from his customary way of going about things, jolting himself out of a routine. As Malkmus commented, “It’s fun to mess with things that you’re not supposed to”.

The first taste of Stephen’s new groove can be sampled with the release of single “Viktor Borgia”, and its accompanying video starring Stephen alone in a dance club. The title playfully merges the name of the comedian-pianist and the ruthless dynasty of Italo-Spanish nobles. With its stately melody and the almost-English-accented vocal, the coordinates here are early Human League or even Men Without Hats. “I was thinking things like Pete Shelley’s ‘Homosapien’, the Human League, and DIY synth music circa 1982”, says Stephen, adding “and also about how in the New Wave Eighties, these suburban 18-and-over dance clubs were where all the freaks would meet – a sanctuary”.

Tracklisting:

Eins

A1. Belziger Faceplant

A2. A Bit Wilder

A3. Viktor Borgia

A4. Come Get Me

A5. Forget Your Place

Zwei

B1. Rushing The Acid Frat

B2. Love The Door

B3. Bossviscerate

B4. Ocean of Revenge