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Maritime
words by Tom Stopp

‘Muesli’ introduces Minotaur Shock’s second studio LP in a magically odd kind of way. Despite ‘Maritime’ processing a running theme of (unsurprisingly) all things nautical, its opener is straight out of Roald Dahl’s warped imagination of Oompa Loompas and Chocolate Factories.

The repetitive creaking clarinet and enchanting xylophone make it a serious head fuck of clowning imagery that induces either laughter or a nervous breakdown. There are no alternatives.

‘Vigo Boy’ meanwhile edges us closer to the seven seas, seeming perfect to rest your head against the windowpane of a speeding train as it rushes parallel to the coast. It’s pure optimism of better things to come.

And the imagery goes on. In the author’s own words, ‘Hilly’ is the sound that “debauched individuals dance to naked as we sail past the coast of Cornwall at night.” And without even needing the clue, the scene is embossed into our minds via disjointed samples of a Telly Tubby rave.

So here’s the masterstroke for those not familiar with Minotaur Shock’s work – There are no lyrics. It really is as simple as that. Sure, the likes of Mike Skinner can paint ever-accurate scenes of city life with raw wit and street poetry but Minotaur Shock (aka David Edwards) achieves an equally comprehensible visual without needing to hand it to us on a plate.

If this is an experiment, it’s a startling success!

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