Turbowolf: The Free Life

[caption id="attachment_37222" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Turbowolf: The Free Life[/caption]Written by Robin Ervolina

 

I have returned from a psychedelic trip. The vision: a disruptive landscape surrounded by a borderless galaxy. The drug: Turbowolf. The route of administration: The Free Life (releasing 3/9/18). 

 

In the ever-evolving world of rock, Turbowolf spins new tunes with a retro feel. The déjà vu goes deep. Vocals and synthesizers dive into the recesses of my mind. I’m hearing fragments of Jefferson Airplane, Enter Shikari and The Cure. I’m floating on an eclectic atmosphere of ambiguity. The quirky quartet from Bristol seem hell bend on breaking every rule but one: there are no rules in punk rock.

 

Our introduction to the theme of The Free Life is a brief oratory by Joe Talbot of Idles. “All for you, not for you, the free life.” Then, “No, No, No” kicks in and it’s as trippy as it is pretty. "Capital X” comes in hot, reminding you Turbowolf is also a rock band, in case the psychedelic bend had you confused. Talbot loans his vocals again, and the dirty funk feel underlying his feature is strong. “Cheap Magic” has a clear 70s vibe and a strong jazz improvisational feel to it. Guest vocalist Sebastian Grainger (Death From Above) grounds this tune in a sublime blending of tones.

 

Proving The Free Life encompasses the punk rock concept of community, fourth track “Very Bad” (which is so very good) features Turbowolf friend and voice of Vodun, Chantal Brown. Her cool, clean, soulful sound is the yin to the yang of Chris Georgiadis throatier delivery. Brown croons “Are we not people with a human touch? Are we not even human that much?” Get that stuck in your head. That’s where good lyrics should live. However, my favorite part of this song is the purely punk deconstruction of its previously cohesive melody. "Very Bad" ends with a frenzy of heavy bass, chaotic synthesizers and an escalating tempo. By the time the feedback announces the finale, I’m exhausted. This track is a highlight of The Free Life, and I could listen to it repeatedly.

 

“Half Secret” calls to mind B-52s. “Domino,” (featuring Mike Kerr of Royal Blood) induces vertigo. “Last Three Clues” ditches the pretense that there is any “sound” Turbowolf is going for. It shoots you straight to the rule-less era of proto-punk. It’s at this point I understand that when you do whatever you want, you’ll do something no one else does. Bravo, Turbowolf.

By the time “Up N Atom” cues, I’m comfortable with the Turbowolf sound. It’s no longer a shock, still intriguing, but I’ve been going warped speed for 25 minutes and I need to pull over and rest before continuing this journey.

 

It is, of course, at the point I let my guard down that a semi carrying a truck load of frenzy plows through my respite in the form of “Black Hole.” The intro is tight and intense. Title track

"The Free Life” follows, and oddly enough was the one I zoned out on. (Maybe it’s because “Black Hole is so intense?) However, on second listen I found a gem in lyrics that sum up the CD for me.  “Science, magic, all things in between, freedom, free will, the free life is a dream.”

 

But we’re not at the end of The Free Life. The final track is appropriately titled, “Concluder,” and does its part to sum up the entirety of the CD. Andy Ghosh's descending riffs are illustrative of The Free Life, which begins in chaos and ends in peace. What more could we ask for in life, in general?

 

It is no wonder Turbowolf critics have struggled to define them as a particular genre. This CD will not make their job easier. There is complete unpredictability in The Free Life. If this makes you uncomfortable, that is even more reason to sit up and pay attention.

 

Turbowolf is:

 

Chris Georgiadis (vocals/synthesisers)

 

Andy Ghosh (guitar)

 

Lianna Lee Davies (bass)

 

Blake Davis (drums)