Review Summary: A smorgasbord of wacky electronica as admirable as it is messy
WHARFWHIT is the alias of London-based electronic producer Jamie Bulled, most commonly known for his work with the J-Pop trio Kero Kero Bonito. His first solo EP,
Evidently, stays rooted in KKB’s cultural stylings while taking a decidedly more wacky and club-friendly approach.
Bulled’s unique perspective on dance music is best exemplified by the standout cut “Keep U Sweet.” Opening with a series of wonky pitch-shifting synths, the track gains momentum with the addition of distorted raps over a stuttering bass groove straight out of the 90’s. As the song progresses, the synth lines grow even more urgent and unpredictable before finally getting caught in percussive loops in the denouement. The track swirls around the edge of chaos without ever falling in, despite the seemingly unstable nature of its disparate elements. “Keep U Sweet” (and four other tracks on
Evidently) feature vocals from Bulled’s KKB bandmate Sarah Midori Perry, though the music here is distinct enough to stand apart from the band’s other work. The only song that could feasibly appear on a KKB record is the optimistic opener “Flaunt” which primarily revolves around Perry’s cutesy message of self-acceptance. The track’s juicy bass and house-flavored organ further demonstrate Bulled’s skill at blending different dance genres together to create entirely new flavors.
Unfortunately, the first two tracks are so strong that much of the EP feels a bit half-baked in comparison. “Rug” is a plodding piece full of strange mutterings and overly-jarring synths that fails to be remotely interesting or danceable. “Whistle Blower” suffers from a similar lack of focus due to the unnecessary addition of obnoxious air horn-esque noises that drown out an otherwise enjoyable melody. These tracks reach an amateurish level of pesky maximalism that seems a bit too immature and unrefined in comparison to Bulled’s more tempered work.
The remaining songs are inspired enough to engage, but not captivate. Although it isn’t very catchy or rhythmic, the lead single “Elbows” still manages to be somewhat refreshing due to its strong sense of personality and humorous commentary on club culture. Over a series of self-described “awkward body sounds,” Bulled delivers a goofy, rapid-fire sermon on the injustices committed on DJs by clueless venue owners. As a general rule, Bulled could really stand to follow a “less is more” philosophy to help his work be a bit more concise and cohesive. This would be especially beneficial to tracks like “Favourite Plate”- a chilled-out fusion of Bulled’s grime-flavored nursey rhymes and Perry’s downtempo vocals that continues the trend of unnecessary synth flourishes found elsewhere in the EP.
All in all,
Evidently is a truly mixed bag- a hodgepodge of musical ideas that occasionally take root in the exceptional, but largely germinate in the realm of the messy and unengaging without maturing into anything worthwhile. While Bulled’s music could use some serious polishing, it’s still nice to hear this level of experimentation in the dance genre that seems to be moving in an ever more stale and formulaic direction. WHARFWHIT doesn’t always hit the mark, but it’s still impressive to hear him aim for it.
