Osees – SORCS 80
“Osees” as a collection of letters is just one French accent away from meaning “daring” in a (feminine plural) way … and daring SORCS 80 duly is. Limited to just synth, percussion, sax, and John Dwyer’s varied vocal, there’s no guitar, and no keys. A self-imposed challenge to get “the creative juices flowing”, the result is more focussed and less silly than the last Osees record, Intercepted Message. That album was written to be catchier than the proggy oddities that preceded it, with proper verses, choruses, and everything, and it also brought SORCS 80’s tenor and baritone sax section to the fore.
SORCS 80 is just as hooky (tracks like “Earthing” approaching being radio-friendly), just as horny, and just as heavy, and despite the restrictive palette, it’s still unmistakably an Osees record, however their trademark, choppy rhythms are played. And don’t forget that just two albums back, this same sound was played from the matted, crusty corners of anarcho-punk because Dwyer hasn’t. Here, the brutally minimalist LP opener “Look At The Sky” has all of that hardcore energy, with face-smashing drums and dumb yelps that slice the pit wide open only for it to collapse back in on itself. It’s an absolute hoot obviously, and a full body workout (brain excepted).
The recording is impeccable: urgent, tight, and free of unintentional scuzz. And while bouncy, buzzed-out synth graduations may be a crude weapon they make an effective bedding, letting standout drums and Dwyer deliver raw, basement-budget blasts, sleazy new-wave, no-wave skronk, and filthy electro-punk, bubbling sci-fi FX never far away. “Zipper”, as an example, is so rudimentary it’s elemental. Dwyer says the smarmy “Pixelated Moon” is, in turn, inspired by Kevin Rowland … we say Bryan Ferry. Deconstructed punk-funk (“Also The Gorilla”) runs parallel to sultry grooves (“Lear’s Ears”), Dwyer exercising every octave of his upper howls (“Cochon D’Argent”).
It’s abundantly clear that Dwyer and co. can make a success of whatever they set their minds to, so be under no illusion that every Osees record sounds exactly like it’s supposed to. Lucky us, when they sound like this.
Best track: “Cassius, Brutus & Judas”
~SORCS 80 is released 9th August 2024 via Castle Face.~