Review: Ex Canix - Primi

It seems apt that this review follows on from Heroin In Tahiti as it benefits from many of the same tropes and idiosyncratic flourishes - the main difference is that where Heroin In Tahiti channel the collective memory of Italy, Ex Canix have a distinctly Swedish thing going on. The group got together in 2015 but apparently have been playing music together in various guises since the mid-70s - that's an awful lot experience on which to draw. The band are: Tjabbe Anstérus - percussion, Boch - bass, electronics, cello and guitar, Lars Hoffsten (drummer from Flowers Must Die) - drums and percussion and Håkke Müller - electronics, keyboard and bass. I have to be honest and say that I did not know of their existence until I had an email from Rickard from Flowers Must Die alerting me to this release and I'm glad he did for Ex Canix have produced a warm, fuzzy, jazzy piece of experimental music that is a joy to anyone's ears.

When opener 'Can You Take Me to Tay Umago' gets underway the first thing you notice is the almost dub like bass - its deep pulse reverberates through the track like its very lifeblood. Over this lay all manner of noises; squeals of feedback, the clatter of percussion and flourishes of electronica. The overall result is a wonderful track that is sort of ambient, sort of dancey, sort of experimental but definitely good. 'Feed The Monster' has beautiful sultry jazz sitting over some groovy bongos. The addition of saxophone, courtesy of Shadow, gives things that 'hot summer's evening' vibe but there are enough sharp edges to keep things from being 'smooth'. As it progresses it evolves into something more experimental with layered and hushed choral vocals adding an eerie vibe. 'Slow For You' is, in contrast, dramatic and bombastic - huge bass drum hits and wonderful wailing cello drones sound like an experimental contemporary score to an old black and white film. The tempo gradually increases and the introduction once more of those eerie choral vocals add yet another dimension - a truly wonderful track. 'Out There' starts with some simple but jazzy piano chords that become discordant, and some hypnotic bubbling percussion. Things become cacophonous with the clatter of instruments sounding like the chatter of exited children, but the track is seen out with piano and bliss. 'Minetta' is all jazzy lounge over busy tribal percussion and hauntological electronica until about halfway through when a guitar kicks in with some sparkling prog based psychedelia which beautifully complements the jazzy structure. 'Dreamland' is a long track at 10 minutes plus and is an absolute beauty. Jazz tinged piano is gradually replaced by oscillating electronica over ever present tribal drums. It a track that can suspend reality for a little while...an oasis of peace in this hurly-burly world. 'In The Can' closes the album with a festival of marimba (I think!) and effects over a backdrop of seriously funky drums and the welcome return of the sax adding some alluring undertones to the shimmering rhythm. If this sounds all a bit 'vanilla' then take heart that throughout run unsettling effects to keep things a tad off kilter and then when the guitar returns wailing like a psychedelic banshee ...woah!

'Primi' came as a real surprise and is little gem of an album. As mentioned in the intro, Ex Canix share some similarities with Heroin In Tahiti, mainly in that uncanny skill of taking totally disparate elements and weaving them together to produce a sonic tapestry of warmth, depth and eccentricity. It is stumbling upon (or more correctly, being directed to) albums like this that make writing a blog worthwhile. It is available from the band's Bandcamp page here and comes in vinyl, CD and digital versions.