Arkpocalypse Now

Insanely good new album from Ark aka Guillaume Berroyer, who I referenced here. It's house Jim but not as we know it. Pre-released on vinyl a couple of weeks ago I became aware of the record in the traditional way - browsing through racks of vinyl and picking out anything of interest. It's rarely been off my turntable since. Being on Perlon there is a distinct lack of marketing around the release which whilst I admire to a point is not really justifiable in the case of Arkpocalypse Now. Albums this good deserve more from the labels that release them.

Sample heavy and with a cavalier attitude to conventional house music structures Arkpocalypse Now flits between head nodding grooves and dance-floor funk. 'House of the Dead' is rich in atmosphere and dense with texture. 'Obamark' fuses an Obama sample that is so obvious but so clever its application, that I defy you not to get exited by it's ominous bass note, steel drum refrain and what sounds like a ferret fancier counterpointing Obama's "hello Chicago". It is both seriously good and laugh out loud funny. I have a shit-eating grin on my face every time I play it. The same could probably be said about 'Rising' which though slightly more restrained is equally adept at bringing joy.

There are dubby excursions such as 'Deep at All' and boogie funk that would make Dam Funk jealous on 'Biscouit'. Every song feels essentially different, and like the proverbial Puscha Doll, there are never ending layers that continue to reveal themselves with repeated listens. I am not going to lie and pretend I was the biggest Ark fan before I got this record - I wasn't. I hadn't heard anything that sent me wild. However, for now at least I have found my new favourite album. One where practically every song has me reaching for the nearest person (usually my Girlfriend) and demanding that they stop what they are doing and listen to 'this'.

Just go and buy it. You cannot be disappointed - music this good does not need to be discussed in endless detail.