ROBOCOBRA QUARTET - LIVING ISN'T EASY
Robocobra Quartet’s newest release Living Isn’t Easy is an excellent example of what this Irish group have to offer the world of music, as they take their unique style on a postmodern journey. The use of instrumentation and voices creates a resonating sound that relishes the essence of humanity, gritty but beautiful in such a way that is comforting and familiar.
To any that have yet to discover them, they are a fusion of jazz with spoken-word and post-punk which is odd at first but it’s quirky mix is hypnotically enjoyable that will hook you in. Part of this sound is created by an uncommon selection of instruments used to create the tone they have; the melodies sung from clarinets and saxophones and the only strung guitar being the bass that drives the stochastic rhythm. There’s something for everyone to love: relatable messages, calming melodies and grungy breakdowns.
The album opens with a pensive introduction that begins the emotional rollercoaster that listeners will embark upon. It captures the tense anxiety that come with the development of aspirations that thematically grounds the concept they have set out to explore. Feeding into their latest single ‘Wellness’, the first of the four singles to appear throughout the album. This humorously looks at the obsessive routines developed in modern health fads that highlights the toxicity of such. The message seems potent and starts to develop the importance of self-care that seems to be the takeaway from the album.
‘Labyrinth’ is a dystopian nightmare, traversing the hardships of career paths and the cost of living. It’s noire tone is mesmerising, which aids to deliver the lyrics in a lighter manner, considering the heavy message behind it. This track is a highlight from the album and displays the exciting work this group are consistently producing. ‘Chromo Sud’ is a perplexing balance of melancholy optimism, battling the decline of the housing market in Northern Ireland. The track reflects this by fronting two parts, the first being brooding and chaotic later developing into the second which is an upbeat fanfare that signals an emergence from the crisis.
The jazz and punk influences are apparent throughout as the dynamics alter between erratic chaotic tones to the slower, drawn out melodies which keeps the album unpredictable right the way through to the end. This combined with the band’s reputation for improvisation is part of the gripping appeal of Robocobra Quartet’s complex world for which Living Isn’t Easy provides a great introduction for newcomers.
The songwriting process particularly aids the delivery of Robocobra Quartet’s newest addition,which were all carefully planned including recording all of the lyrics in one session so as the album. This final detail gives lead vocalist, Ryan, a more fatigued tonality towards the end which accentuates the difficulty of pursuing life aspirations, the thematic underpinning for Life Isn’t Easy.
The combination of broad musical influences and tackling challenging subjects is a exceptional demonstration of bold and brave artistic expression that few artists are capable of producing in a respectful yet entertaining fashion. Moreover, to do so without infringing too far past and observatory perspective is even more impressive and awards the group with greater integrity. It’s everything you could hope for from a fusion of jazz and punk, with Life Isn’t Easy being the most refined of their unique style.
This album is a must-listen to add to any music lover’s list. This band will leave you forever yearning a larger breakout of this genre, which ultimately leads you back to Robocobra Quartet time and time again.
David Barter
★★★★★