{"product_id":"neptune","title":"Neptune","description":"Audio Mixer: Adrian Sherwood.\u003cbr\u003eRecording information: On-U Sound Castle, Ramsgate, UK.\u003cbr\u003eHigher Authorities is a side project of Clinic members Adrian \"Ade\" Blackburn and Jonathan Hartley that leans heavily toward the group's dub influences. The duo's songs consist of a loose drum machine pulse surrounded by organ and fuzzy wah-wah guitar, and of course waves of echo effects. The album was mixed and co-produced by Adrian Sherwood, Britain's foremost dub expert, but the songs are closer to languid psych-pop rather than post-punk or reggae. At some points, it seems somewhat like Sun Araw with more of a pop focus and faster tempos. Other moments recall the homespun indie-dub-disco of Peaking Lights, but with a slightly paranoid feel rather than sunny optimism. Blackburn veers toward speaking rather than singing on several tracks, bringing to mind Underworld's Karl Hyde at times, particularly when his effects-altered voice chants \"everything\" during \"Colour.\" Background studio chatter surfaces occasionally, lending to its casual, in-the-moment feel. There's only a handful of instances where the dub-damaged effects overpower the songs; this isn't anywhere near as harsh or whacked out as Mark Stewart's most bizarre work. \"Monocle Man\" comes closest to that territory, though, as it features some intense spliffed-out delay surrounding a British female voice who brings to mind Sherwood collaborators like Ari Up and Little Annie. There's a tiny bit of sly, mischievous Lee \"Scratch\" Perry-like humor mixed in, particularly when barnyard animal sounds start creeping into \"Abracadabra.\" Surprisingly, it takes until the album's final minutes (during the relaxed, swirling title track) for a melodica to show up. Higher Authorities doesn't seem to have any ambitions beyond being an informal extracurricular venture, but it sounds decent and trippy enough. ~ Paul Simpson","brand":"MovieMars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47673673908511,"sku":"887829035525","price":9.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/7833\/0399\/files\/ae15bfc86a1614a6a8e06eeadfe27e28.jpg?v=1777789936","url":"https:\/\/www.moviemars.com\/products\/neptune","provider":"MovieMars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}