Born Ruffians | Say It

Warp (2010)
By MICHAEL BRODEUR  |  May 26, 2010
3.0 3.0 Stars

Born_Ruffian_Say_It-MAin

Over the past half of Warp’s robust 20-year run, the label’s enduring legacy as a vanguard force in electronic music has drifted as its tastes have gone positively eclectic. The mixed-media future folk of Bibio, the experimental soul of Jamie Lidell, the polished post-punk nuts of Maximo Park — these are the sounds that have elevated Warp from the Squarepusher pushing that first made its name. If there’s one commonality that continues to bind these varied acts into a family, it’s a prevailing clarity of vision. Bibio’s Ambivalence Avenue, Grizzly Bear’s Yellow House, Lidell’s Multiply — these were statement albums by artists prepared to make them.

Now, Toronto trio Born Ruffians may have their turn with their sophomore effort. Fans of the high organization and tempered pop textures of Field Music will adore “Higher and Higher,” which twists its minimal quirks tightly around its spartan rhythm as Luke LaLonde’s strained vocal stretches like a sail connecting David Byrne, Tom Verlaine, and Hamilton Leithauser. “What To Say” enjoys the subdued soul of a Young Marble Giants track and the jangly simplicity of classic Unrest — but its fresh change of clothes could be on loan from Vampire Weekend (however that may strike you).

As confidently current as Say It comes off, it doesn’t sound susceptible to fashion. Given enough attentive ears, the Ruffians may have made a statement that will last a long time — or at least assembled enough ears for the next one.

Related: Myra Melford’s Be Bread | The Whole Tree Gone, Four Tet | There Is Love In You, Ape & Undu | Jaw & Order, More more >
  Topics: CD Reviews , Entertainment, Entertainment, post-punk,  More more >
| More


Most Popular
ARTICLES BY MICHAEL BRODEUR
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   FOLK ACT  |  June 26, 2010
    Vikesh Kapoor
  •   BOSTON PRIDE WEEK: OFF THE MAP  |  June 07, 2010
    We may seem a little cranky, but us local gayfolk just love a parade, and we’re actually heartened by this annual influx of brothers and sisters from every state of New England and every letter of our ever-expanding acronym.  
  •   THE NEW GAY BARS  |  June 02, 2010
    If I may channel the late, great Estelle Getty for a moment: picture it, Provincetown, 2009, a dashing young man with no discernible tan and an iffy T-Mobile signal languishes bored upon the sprawling patio of the Boatslip Resort.
  •   ARIEL PINK’S HAUNTED GRAFFITI | BEFORE TODAY  |  June 01, 2010
    If the gradual polishing of Ariel Pink’s sound — and it’s not all that much more polished — puts his loyalists at odds with his albums, I count that as good news.
  •   MORE THAN HUMAN  |  May 26, 2010
    It’s hard to talk about Janelle Monáe when your jaw’s fallen off.

 See all articles by: MICHAEL BRODEUR