Alexander Robotnick (aka "Indulgence" on this release) makes music like his hair is on fire. What can I say? The guy is an inspiration: with more than 30 years in the game (an age at which too many artists become a living K-Tel Greatest Hits compilation), Maurizio Dami still seems delighted in discovering what new noises he can make.
Hot Elephant has been Robotnick's vehicle of choice for serving his tracks to the masses since 2002, and it's the platform for A Boozing Day, a 5 track ode to conspicuous consumption written by "some alcoholic musicians at AA sessions". There's a light aftertaste (sorry, the puns are only gonna get worse from here) of disco to even the least discoy tracks here. When the drums start out hard like a pounding hangover as in "Morning Daiquiri", there's some Catfish Collins guitar and a funky bassline to keep bodies in motion. "Bloody Mary Lunch" rolls out those high arching synths that are pretty much a Robotnick signature sound with a shift to boogie woogie riffs about halfway through. "Five O'Clock Beer" is an oddly life-affirming anthem with celestial peaks devoted to the workingman's siesta. The EP of five original tracks closes with "Double Malt Night" - straight up lights-in-your-eyes disco.
It's odd and really something of a personal affront to my sensibilities that a new Alexander Robotnick release isn't such a big ta'do - more than the mere "cult figure" in the underground, he continues to surprise and amaze, with a creativity that's second to none.
Review by: Terry Matthew / August 2011
Available: Released in July; available from Juno Download and iTunes.
| + | Track Listing | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 01: | indulgence: Morning Daiquiri | 5:29 |
| 02: | indulgence: Bloody Mary Lunch | 7:45 |
| 03: | indulgence: Five O'Clock Beer | 5:14 |
| 04: | indulgence: Evening Margarita | 6:25 |
| 05: | indulgence: Double Malt Night | 6:04 |
Terry Matthew is the managing editor of 5 Magazine. You can contact him at 
