The Armchair Captains – 1trikpwnyz (2021)
The Armchair Captains are sinking their hooks into the current issues of modern society with their EP 1trikpwnyz. With a particular focus on the environment and the current political landscape, they contrast these higher themes with daily life in the UK. The EP is part of their current project to release 12 EPs in 12 months with each exploring a different style and genre.
This delve into current affairs comes from Spencer Lawrence (vocals), Joe Gordan-Potts (keys, bass, sax), Luke Lomax (guitar, bass, drums) and Tom Evans (drums, trombone). They all met at university and started a cover band and free-jazz improvisation group. These two bands merged to form this genre-defying collective.
The EP opens with ‘Too Late’ and the gentle acoustic guitar that turns into a wonderfully jazzy flow. The vocals that fly over the smooth jazz of the melody are wonderful before the main vocal line takes over. There is a soulful vibe to the vocals that rests over the horns and swaying flows of the music. This all comes together for a rather chilled vibe that belies the lyrics. As you float on the jazzy river of music, the lyrics question whether it is too late and we have gone too far for climate change to be fixed. The passion in the vocals really comes through later in the track and make you want to close your eyes and get down to the movement.
‘Gotta Think’ uses a deeper beat to get you hooked to the smooth tones. The guitar calls out through the soundscape but there seems to be a disconnect between the movement of the guitar and the beats. This creates two layers to the track that seem to be working independently but come together wonderfully. The vocals ride the middle of the two layers for a mournful flow. This rather short track calls out the apathy of the world in such a delightfully soulful way.
The gentle twinkling tones that open ‘Mix It!’ dance across the warm vocals line. The slightly retro-soul tones of the track have a twilight feeling to them that hits you with a subdued vibe. When the horns hit, the vibe gets a more upbeat flow that has your feet tapping to the beat. As you float on the vibes of the track, there is an almost woozy feeling that overtakes your senses. The vocals move from the subdued haziness of the opening to a soulful growl as the instrumentation gets a jazz improvisation hit.
‘Skip Step’ grabs your attention with the beats that get your head moving to their rhythm. The vocals make you think of scat jazz but there is a more melodic flow to them. Beneath the vocals is a great melody that warps at times to enhance the lyrics of the track. The track uses a combination of vocals and music to take on the world of consumerism and fast production. This song is so different to everything else you might be listening to as it brings the smoothness of jazz, the punch of scat and a touch of distortion at times to bring the message home.
The stepping opening of ‘Half Cooked’ take you back to the more melodic flows of the band. The smoothness of the piano is enhanced by a deep almost industrial beat that comes through from a distance. The vocals are all neo-soul goodness and really showcase the power of Lawrence’s voice. As he gains more power on the chorus, his voice slides through your senses and sinks his hooks in. The guitar riff that follows is perfection against the depths of the soundscape. As the song progresses, there is a touch of improvisation woven into the artful arrangement of the track.
The EP comes to a close with the thrumming and warbling tones of ‘One Meal’. There is an interplay of organic tones and artificial warbles that creates a really funky vibe. There is no way that you can listen to this song and not feel the urge to move in some way to the rhythm. The vocals take a more modern edge compared to the soulful tones of the rest of the EP. Throughout the track, each instrument is given a chance to shine while the vocals hit from above. It is a super engaging song that you can’t help but vibe to.
The Armchair Captains keep you hooked to their fusion of soul, jazz and funk through the tracks of 1trikpwnyz. Each track has a different vibe but there is a thread woven into each that highlights the jazzy goodness of the band. With a touch of jazz improvisation scattered through the music, the lyrics take on some heavy topics in a wonderfully engaging way.
Find out more about The Armchair Captains on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
