THUNDERCAT — The Golden Age of Apocalypse (review)

THUNDERCAT — The Golden Age of Apocalypse album cover

Album · 2011 · RnB

3.5/5 · 2012-01-03
Abraxas

New stuff! Ok music fans, I've got a confession to make. Some time ago, I used to think that the 21st Century had nothing new to offer artistically, where mainstream music floods the air waves, which is all just music companies products (a.k.a. crap).

But I was wrong, I veered towards some electronica from this new millenium, as well as some indie music, like DJ Shadow (also from the 90s) and Flying Lotus, and damn, these guys are bloody creative! Yes, they sample past glories, from the 90s all backwards, but they really create original and interesting music, for anyone willing to accept that electronics have become a central part of the 21st century.

What we've got here, fresh from the oven (2011!), is The Golden Age of Apocalypse by Thundercat, a very talented bassist who had previously worked with hardcore band, Suicidal Tendencies, and most recently with, the already mentioned experimental DJ/producer, Flying Lotus, who happens to be producing this work!

What Thundercat has to offer us is overall a very chilling album, with dreamy compositions fullfilled with synths and repetitive drum patterns, plus the ocassional sweet and echoey vocals and some really fine bass playing, reminding us of past fusion bass giants.

But don't be fooled, this is neither repleted with electronics or samples nor a totally soft, boring affair. The Golden Age of Apocalypse starts off sampling George Duke's 'For Love (I Come Your Friend)', already showcasing good musical references. And then there are tracks like 'Fleer Ultra' and 'Jamboree' that shows an interesting mix of jazz fusion and electronica.

However, for me the best moment of the album are heard in both, 'Is it Love?' and 'For Love I Come', wisely put on one after the other, having a fabulous flow. The former pulls off the dreamy aspect of this album at its best, with a quirky vocal melody, and majestic jazzy bass playing. The latter is a cover rendition of George Duke's tune, which had previously been sampled at the beginning of the album. Thundercat does a marvellous job, bringing his own ideas into it at full shape, beautiful vocals and spacey atmosphere, which later turns into a jazz fusion instrumental led by bass.

Ok, it wasn't my intention to start writing this review as if this album was "the" 21st century album to purchase, my intention was to state that there's actually very good stuff going on these days, even though it's not out there in front of the music shops, it's buried in the vast world of the internet.

What Thundercat gave us was a refreshing taste of an easy-listening, yet with some noteworthy arrangements, hybrid of fusion, electronics and bits of R&B and funk, surely denoting the bassist's musical taste (just listen to 'Walkin' it's like the late 70s al over again!).

Fine stuff, Thundercat might outdo himself next time, if he tries to experiment a bit more, get into wilder territory, within the jazz and electronic context. Yet, as his debut album, he did the right thing. This is recommended!