Banana Splatter Vinyl
Ah ha, the return of the inimitable Jennifer Herrema and her totally scorched Black Bananas outfit. Bad Bunch is the first album under the alias in 12 years, and indeed, the first we’ve heard from her since the short-lived return of Royal Trux in 2019. As part of the roll out for that final Trux record, a series of remixes also emerged, one of which was a frankly unhinged suite by the now supremely-cancelled Ariel Pink. The influence of that remix seems to have bled over into Bad Bunch, and whatever you might now think of AP’s dodgy politics, it’s a sound that Herrema wears mightily well, a concoction of distorted frequencies and treated vocals that finds sweet inspiration in mapping chopped n screwed hip hop with 70s glam metal hard rocking and jazz-funk flexing. It’s absurdist, eccentric and occasionally somewhat disturbing, all to the better, and a true reflection of an artist that’s never been anything other than absolutely, determinedly herself for the best part of 3.5 decades now. Mostly, amidst the wild experimentation and uncanny knack for a melody, what shines through is sheer force of personality - Herrema is like a cartoon character or a superhero: larger than life and borderline impossible. True and somehow unknown magic, as ever.
FFO: Ariel Pink, DJ Screw, Point Blank, Royal Trux
