The Pilgrim's Ghost

The Deadstock 33s is the most recent incarnation of British acid house legend Justin Robertson. Over the past three decades Robertson has helped shape the very direction of dance music; from his underground DJ sets in Manchester’s early days to his regular chart appearances with Lionrock, through his various collaborative projects (Gentlemen Thief, Revtone, Two Culture Clash etc) he has always brought an original and open minded approach to everything he does. The Deadstock 33s is no exception with the act creating a stir with a string of solo and collaborative singles with the hotly tipped Daniel Avery. Now Robertson is ready to unleash the debut album from The Deadstock 33s featuring eleven new tracks that showcase his prodigious talents as a writer, producer and vocalist. ‘The Pilgrim’s Ghost’ is a bubbling, rolling, bass driven collection of electronic gems that defies any real genre classification. From the opening pulsing cut, ‘Tic Tic Toc’, there is a real sense of the eclectic musical nature of the LP; heavy tape delay, psychedelic guitar parts and swirling FX all lend to the feel of otherworldliness that permeates the album. Lead single ‘Underneath the Pines’ makes an appearance early on with its retro funk fuelled electro bass and hypnotic vocals creating a wonderful soundscape. ‘My Best Dub’ continues in the funk fuelled vein with it’s bubblin’ bassline and lighthearted top riffs playing off Robertson’s vocals. ‘Baron Richelieu’s Trapeze’ journeys into darker and techier territory with it’s edgy arpeggiated synth work whilst ‘High Lane in Summer’ travels to the outer realms with its reversed loops and synth driven melodies. ‘Impatient for Your Love’ sees Robertson move into excellent slo-mo vocal territory whilst ‘Monty Dance’ is a full bore, old school acidic workout. ‘The Circular Path’ continues the retro synth driven vibe with its rolling delays and tightly messed percussion, ‘C’est L’Amour’ has a light and quirky feel to it whilst ‘Whistling Heart’ fuses together elements of techno, indie and electro in one wonderful musical tapestry. The LP is completed with the brilliantly emotive ‘Twisted Veil’ which closes the album with an almost Cocteau Twins-esque feel. ‘The Pilgrim’s Ghost’ is an album with real depth and character that transcends the sum of its eleven parts and is a testament to Justin Robertson’s continually evolving musical passion, enjoy!