David Tibet’s been a busy man, undertaking lots of extra curricular activity to rich rewards by collaborating with the likes of Zu and Youth, now he’s dancing on the cuneiformed candy of Mesopotamia with the likes of Andrew Liles and an unknown commodity of the Shaitan-Boy — who may just be a figment of both their fevered imaginings.
All rather intriguing, I must say. Could this be a follow up to The Aryan Aquarians Meet Their Waterloo as weedy electrics blow pixelated bubbles through Tibet’s FX-saturated vocals. Bursts of “Taste The Rainbow” 8-bit jigging with the multiple personalties that seem to be summoning something ancient into existence — or just having a Mighty Boosh moment of fun — you’re never quite sure.
Not wholly convinced I like it, to be honest. That Super Mario crystal-snatch super low-res quality to the sonics is a bit wearing, but then again I didn’t like the stripped back aesthetic of Soft Black Stars when I first heard it, and now it’s up there with my all-time favourites – so I’m all open-minded to Play Wooden Child‘s long-term potential. All that mysterious verbiage does despatch a curious pull as the glistening surface tension juxa-juggles to David’s Akkadian tongue, mixing up archangels, chemical elements and numerology to good affect. It’s quite trippy in places too, “Salamander Candy”’s reverby overdubs giving a much-needed depth to all those wobbly John Carpenter-esque / Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy soundtrack arpeggios pond-skating around.The more you listen, the more it seems to velcro its virtues, that blend of silly and sinister that has historically stalked Current 93’s toy-town noodlings, even amused the shimmer-shanty synthetics of “Crowleymass” and “Christopher Robin”. Looking backwards to flow forward, on goes the good ship Nodding God, painting the town a neon pink as “Natron Skipping Rope” tips narcotically into your head, its synth slides and bubbling cubics nipping at that Shamen-like cinnamon. “Calcination Totem Station” has its giggy intoxications too, as the diode jive of “Geometric Magus Breath” Shirley Temples a distant communion like an esoteric Gameboy cracking a cheeky grin at its unsuspecting public.
Play Wooden Child is an odd ride that’s strangely satisfying.
-Michael Rodham-Heaps-
