Howlin
The debut from the Aussie duo Jagwar Ma, *Howlin*, is a satisfying slab of hazy neon-flavored pop goodness. Gabriel Winterfield’s youthful, inviting vocals are mixed high enough above the spirited electronic percussion, guitar jangle, and morphing synths to pull listeners in and get them on board with easy, sometimes-repetitive lyrics that take on new meaning the ninth or tenth time around. In fact, repetition is one of the duo’s strong points, from the looping, stuck-needle groove of the opening “What Love” to the house-derived “Exercise” and “Four” and the ‘60s soul beat of the Animal Collective–inflected “Come Save Me.” The duo builds song structures that are simple and clean, riding them until they change shape. “That Loneliness” is an infectious, driving vintage R&B tune inflected with a Beach Boys–style giddiness, and the “The Throw” builds with the kind of swirling psych energy that drove the late-‘80s “Madchester” scene (Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, et al). Jagwar Ma seems utterly sure of itself, carefully balancing disparate styles into a tasty, summery mix that\'ll work wonders on a winter day.
The Australian duo Jagwar Ma’s gleeful debut Howlin’ evokes Madchester in its heady swirl of baggy beats, unabashed Beach Boys melodies, and charmingly silly lyrics. It's a backwards looking record about loving the present moment.
There are few artists that have perfected the kind of engrossing and engaging dance delights that Jono and Gabriel demonstrate here.
Over the past year the Australian duo of Jono Ma and Gabriel Winterfield (aka Jagwar Ma) has been making a splash with a series of loose-fit grooves that borrow heavily from the flowered-up floors of Madchester.
Sydney duo Jagwar Ma aim to kickstart a Madchester revival with mixed results, writes <strong>Hermione Hoby</strong>
In late ‘80s and early ‘90s England, the Madchester sound was at the forefront of British rock culture.