Albums

Album Review: Hawnay Troof

[Album: Islands of Ayle]
[Label: Southern]

I’m sure all of you understanding people out there will appreciate how I feel right now. Waking up from a heavy night of drinking in London, with the biggest hangover of my life and an imminent 4pm-2am shift at work starting in a few hours, to find that my first promos through the post from this delightful website includes this artist. Hawnay Troof – the hitchhiker’s definition of flamboyant electro-pop. The hairs on my skin stood up.

I’d once heard of the artist through the acclaimed EP, ‘Community’, released in between his first two LPs that the internet had a bit of a generation-wank to. I wasn’t much impressed back then, however, time is a healer. ‘Islands of Ayle’ is the third LP released by the solo project of 24 year-old California-based producer Vice Cooler, a multi talented musician, photographer and writer who outside of his music commitments has written books and makes regular contributions to magazines such as Rolling Stone and The Wire. His other past and recent commitments include punk band XBXRX who in 10 years have knocked out 6 full albums and 13 singles & EPs. All this is whilst keeping up with Hawnay Troof, his writing and a host of other artists that he makes contributions for.

The album opens to the screeching sound of ‘Suspension And Conclusion’, it’s not clear whether Vice is trying to imitate MIA or convulse in a daring attempt at making a psychedelic mockery of Muse. Then what greets you is possibly the strangest track that I have ever heard in my life, ‘Front My Hope’ which should be re-titled ‘Can You Cope’. It sounds a lot like what The Magic Roundabout would exist as in the shroom-infested mind of Amy Winehouse; all accompanied with a complimentary rabbit choir. Things really begin to kick off with the next track ‘Underneath the Ocean’ that fortunately does speak truly of MIA and Santogold’s work.

The only thing about this album starting to puzzle me is that clearly the only people that could ever possibly dance to it are members of the Ministry of Silly Walks or naked Playboy Bunnies covered in oil. It’s a pulsating electro rollercoaster, laden with more than a necessary quantity of synthesizers, some of the deepest bass on earth and a lyrical structure that begs for appreciation. Hawnay Troof is definitely one of the most underrated artists that I’ve been fortunate enough to listen to this year.

“Little dude little dude, won’t you see the floor, it will not change the rules of school” If ninth track ‘Oblivions’ is anything to go by, then his live performances are guaranteed to raise a few eyebrows when he inevitably embarks on another world tour – the last time round saw him playing in such obscure places as China and Egypt, after which he wrote a book about the 20-month-long tour entitled “Dollar And Deed Tour” that sold out over the internet within an hour.

Vice Cooler is re-defining how to be a solo artist. His passion for everything new and inventive is one of the reasons that caught Retard Disco’s eye five years ago, and he’s a massive underground inspiration for many of America’s aspiring electro-pop acts. Order a copy of this and you won’t be disappointed; unless of course you prefer to live a blinkered life, consumed within your mainstream electro of Justice and Daft Punk.

For Fans Of: MIA, Peaches, Sonic Youth

Band Link:
Hawnay Troof

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Amazon UK | Amazon US

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