Let’s face it, a collab between GUM, the musical moniker of Jay Watson (Tame Impala/Pond), and Ambrose Kenny-Smith (King Gizz/The Murlocs) was never gonna suck or be vanilla.
This dynamic duo’s origin story: Watson recorded an instrumental which he loved but couldn’t find a home for. So he sent this track to Kenny-Smith and, voilà! Melodic nous, grooves for days and cosmic synths spilled forth.
Following the death of Kenny-Smith’s beloved dad, musician Broderick Smith, in 2023, he found completing a song they’d been working on together – GUM / Ambrose Kenny-Smith’s latest single, Dud – helped him negotiate the grieving process.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Of this expansive song’s title, Kenny-Smith has revealed: “Dad used to always sign off on his emails and birthday cards with ʻ- love Dud xʼ.” One of his own lyrical contributions – “Father/ I bid you adieu/ Somewhere up there singing the blues/ Never out of tune…” – legit made us well-up!
Kenny-Smith’s thrillingly unhinged harmonica playing is exemplary as always (see: Resilience). Minor Setback’s mind-melting bassline, though! It’s such a ripper that we can even forgive them for rhyming “setback” with “back”.
Elsewhere: GUM / Ambrose Kenny-Smith’s potent take on The Impressions ballad Fool For You renders it completely unrecognisable, Powertrippn (an Autocorrect nightmare) is a tripped-out masterpiece and lush vibrato further enlivens standout track Marionette.
The sound of two freakishly brilliant musical minds cutting sick, Ill Times is a whole vibe, like stumbling upon a lava lamp after dropping acid.
RELEASE DATE: 19 JULY
LABEL: p(doom) records
Stream Ill Times here.
