MR . WINCHESTERS CAT - 'OUR CARAVAN' (Life Is Easy Records)

Imagine if you will, a world wherein the music of Godspeed You Black Emperor, Themselves, and Mogwai ruled supreme. People went about their daily lives not humming the latest Arctic Monkeys song, but with that haunting guitar line from the new Mogwai single swirling through their heads. Well, that is the vague sort of world in which Mr. Winchesters Cat inhabit.

Comprising of Ben Elliott and Matt Thwaites of fellow Brighton experimentalists Restlesslist, Mr Winchesters Cats debut album 'Our Caravan' is one hell of an oddball, twisted journey of pure experiments. Essentially this is the more intriguing and underground side of the Restlesslist blueprint - expect loop and sample ridden instrumentals, with the odd flourish of guitar, bass and drums here and there. Lavishly crafted Electronica that would by no means sound out of place being released on the well respected Warp records label.

As an album 'Our Caravan' makes for a strange listen - the tunes being somewhat disjointed, short affairs that leave the listener never quite sure what's going to happen next - whilst at the same time the tracks flow oddly together, as if forming one half hour beast of a track. Infact it comes across as more like an eclectic DJ mix than a normal album.

Opening track 'Clip Clop' starts proceedings with a burst of beats and organ, before breaking down into a steady hypnotic groove that's not dissimilar to Missy Elliotts 'Get Ur Freak On'. Elsewhere we move into more electronic territory with the distorted beats of 'Numb Tooth' - with the whole idea being centred on a recorded conversation. Throughout the course of the album, samples of old records are spliced together, filtered, sampled and played with in odd and mysterious ways, before being added to the bands own melting pot of ideas. Infact there are certain similarities here with the work of underground American collective 13 & God.

Like taking a walk through an obscure alternative world - in parts spooky carnival beats combine with moody electronic effects, before long making way for mellow finger picked guitar lines. That's the essence of this record - unpredictability, and compared to a lot of music these days, it strays so far off the beaten track that its only gone and got itself lost in the dense heart of the forest.

Its perhaps best not to think of this as a collection of songs - more as a collection of snippets, strung cleverly together to create a collage of tunes and styles. Mainstream this ain't - but if you like things a bit different then give this record your time. Interesting.

7/10

Released: Available Now

www.lifeiseasyrecords.co.uk

Ian Chambers, Nov '06