Description
Delving further into the Brenda Ray/Naffi multiverse, following Em’s releases of Brenda Ray’s Walatta and her work with Naffi on D’ya Hear Me!: Naffi Years, here is Hoochie Pooch/Space Alligator. This release focuses on contributions from Freddie Viaduct to the delightfully strange world of the variously named Naffi Sandwich/Naffi, the former being the earlier incarnation of the group as a trio, the latter a duo. Less vocal driven than the poppier D’Ya Hear Me! tracks, these mainly instrumental pieces emphasize the group’s spontaneity, allied with the creative freedoms offered by the band’s ever growing mastery of their Naffi HQ recording studio. The influence of funk plus Jamaican roots music is clearly felt in Viaduct’s forceful and spacious bass playing, reverb, echo and effects. Captain Catchpole’s drums and Ray’s multi-instrumental work fill out the trio sound, resulting in a vast aural territory, with the aforementioned elements blending with Euro-improv, free jazz and post punk viruses to create a subtly mind-bending, rhythmically compelling, and texturally varied DIY hybrid. Originally released on cassette and vinyl and extremely rare, the tracks have been compiled here, along with two previously unissued full-length versions as Hoochie Pooch/Space Alligator and are presented with two extra tracks on the CD.
