Holed-up in a remote country landscape near Chapel Hill the Elliott Smith endorsed Kingsbury Manx began work on third release, ‘Aztec Discipline’ with producer Jerry Kee who had also produced the band’s cautiously taken debut album, ‘Kingsbury Manx’. With recording sessions spread over six-months and with as much attention given to getting drunk and hanging out with friends it seems inevitable that there would be a mighty volume of undisciplined sketching in addition to the flawlessly structured and well realised body of tracks that made up ‘Aztec Discipline’. And whilst there’s evidence of all the trippy folk shenanigans that made up that likeable release, there’s precious little cohesion. ‘Over The Waves’ opens with a nice and spooky enough lick, but for all the shuffling made in the direction of a tune, it never really arrives there. Folks like Elliott Smith and to a lesser extent, Mathew Jay – both of whom are now dead, strangely enough – were craftsmen of the highest standard when it came to whittling something of worth from timorous, even casual ideas and arrangements. Unfortunately the Kingsbury Manx don’t share that same lyrical and desultory impact. And whilst tracks like ‘We’re On The Way’ crackle and burn with beautiful chiming harmonies and guitar fingering, it fails to really ignite. Only on the cheerful country-homage, ‘Mixed Bayonets’ does it sound like the boys have actually realised a full idea – even though it’s ‘Pinstriped’ and ‘Re Da Dementia’ that truly satisfy; creepy synthesisers, edgily surreal and as close to the unsettling, electro circuitry as you’re likely to get this side of Elliot Smith – and nodding pleasingly in the direction of former tour pals, Stereolab.
Still sprouting mushrooms, but sadly not quite as palatable as the previous season’s crop.