News / / 20.09.12

FERGUS AND GERONIMO

FUNKY WAS THE STATE OF AFFAIRS  (Hardly Art)

13/20

Fergus and Geronimo are a duo from Texas – one called Andrew, the other Jason – who have found a welcoming home for themselves at Sub Pop’s mischievous little brother Hardly Art, a label impossible not to love for its name’s reference to The Thermals alone. The album leaps into life in a flurry of tight hi-hats, bass snaps, playful synth interjections and robotic mock-English vocals, a satisfying racket which harks at Seattle’s The Spits if they sounded a bit more like those nice, slightly peculiar chaps from across the street rather than the fuckers from the next town who keep trying to nail your sister. As the record progresses, the odd indulgent wacky wig- out or ill-advised Musak detour distracts from what are, in fact, a series of belting garage-indie numbers. Roman Tick is a brilliantly abrupt and jangly workout, Roman Numerals a thumping, catchy bastard, and closing duo Marky Move and the title track a pair of undeniably saucy oddball boogies. All of this serves to make Funky Was The State of Affairs an admirably breezy and creative lo-fi extravaganza.

 

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Words: Geraint Davies

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