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Review: Joymask ‘Hooligan’

JoymaskALBUM: Hooligan
ARTIST: Joymask

The technical proficiency of the Petersfield-based Joymask has always been such a strong factor that, live, you tend to neglect the writing and arrangement to simply follow the groove and party-inducing mood.

With a fine (and heritage-savvy) production job and strong performances everything about the feel of this record has a nostalgic tinge of ‘Innervisions’ funk, early RHCP and a hefty whack of 80s jazzy self-gratification.

‘Hooligan’ sounds clean, well-spaced and it swings nicely and, although your reviewer admittedly isn’t particularly Funk-headed, has the ring of faithfulness produced by true genre fans.

Joymask splice solid, catchy songs with extensive instrumental noodling that, while impressive, may stand in the way of a bigger audience for a band who, in every other aspect, has trimmed itself down to a slick, businesslike party machine with strong commercial potential.

If there are standout elements here the brass section shines a little brighter than the rest, hooks plentiful and unpretentious and laying-out the vibe of the band but everyone in this group clearly understands the value of simplifying and almost underplaying their roles for maximum atmosphere. Not many bands ever actually clock that.

Hooligan is a good and consistent album of music to dance to but not one that cuts any new path and lacks a bit of spark.

7/10

Listen to the Hooligan mixer on Soundcloud


Reviewed by: reviewersirrah