Extra Life
‘Made Flesh’
(Loaf)

New York natives Extra Life’s previous album ‘Secular Works’ was a muscular, exploratory affair, equal parts grinding bass and bravura, mediaeval-inflected vocals from group leader Charlie Looker. With ‘Made Flesh’, Looker doles out more of the same, but with a distinct squelchiness and fixation with the details of the human body. Off-kilter, tripping rhythms and Tortoiseesque bass crunch together amongst some frankly barmy lyrical constructs; the asseverations of opener  ‘Voluptuous Life’ confirm that Extra Life’s experimental bent is fully present with Looker continually shout-singing “spasm!” over some truly terrifying noises. Later, when he details “the doomed flesh I made” amongst crashing chords and ensemble shrieking, the abiding impression is that, while difficult to digest, the sheer visceral power of ‘Made Flesh’ is recommendation enough. Consistently intriguing.

Daniel Ross