Castrovalva/ We Are a Unit

Castrovalva
We Are a Unit
(Brew)

This album just ‘works’ exceptionally well. I can’t quite put my finger on it. There’s a Satan's cocktail of musical elements here. None of them should go together, but they just do. But maybe that’s the charm. The shock of combining one ingredient with another and creating a formidable flavour – like chilli and chocolate.
We Are a Unit. The title says it all. It’s the unity of the different sounds that is key to this album. It reminds me in a lot of ways of Test Icicles. It’s ferocious and unapologetic, brave and violent, experimental without trying to be.
‘Pump Pump’ begins with an ungodly shriek and quickening pace before it even seems to have started. The deliberately mis-timed percussion gives the urgent sensation of there not being enough time to fit all the rhythm in.
It blends into the next track ‘That’s What I’m Talking About’ which then rolls slower and becomes an almost-Jane’s Addiction fuckfest with added synth, powerful bass and vocals that make you feel like a mushroom cloud layin’ motherfucker, motherfucker!
An interlude of sorts with ‘Unit Radio’ has some hip-hop elements with some dude saying "…and ya don’t stop…and ya don’t quit" etc, plus other samples. Then ‘We Don’t Go to Ravenholm’ has a beautiful contrast of silky smooth falsetto Prince-like vocals with the primal ROAR of Leemun Smith.
Man, the Bronx better watch their backs.