It’s hard to believe that Black Futures is just two people with the trippy names of Space and Vibes. They released their first single in September 2017 Karma Ya Dig? a slice of industrial space-age metal sounding like a cross between the Chemical Brothers and MGMT. They honed their skills writing with The Prodigy and producing Idles. Since their first landing to earth the spacers have released several singles most of which have ended up on their newly released album Never Not Nothing. The album title meaning “..absolutely nothing but absolutely everything at the same time”, say the band. “It’s all-encompassing; infinite nothingness.”
The album starts with an electronic 80s sounding introduction of Never Not Nothing before delving into Love and the gritty vocals of “Ten minutes to the end of the world, right now, right now”. It’s harsh techno-rave, in your face and it’s evocative of a futuristic (or maybe not so futuristic) dystopic world where systems are failing and panic abounds.
Me.TV recalls the melody of Spread Your Love by BRMC. Its words are inspiring as it suggests you “Turn down your Me.TV and turn up for your community”. It’s coarse with a riotous thumping bass. It’s got a wicked voiceover from Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream as he sardonically states “…..so funk of deep proportions. You were born into it and it’s all you’ve ever known. Everybody against everybody else, that’s your mentality and we know where that leads to.” Anarchic and inspiring.
Body and Soul starts with a thumping drum beat and crunchy melody before changing tempo midway and colliding a layer of chaotic sound that would give The Prodigy and Chemical Brothers a run for their money. Then, just as quick it slips back into the melody before building back up to a tumultuous raving beat again.
The tempo next cools down (only slightly) for Youthman with its perceptive, razor-sharp lyrics. “Are you gonna blame it on the Youthman…… Running from a war you didn’t choose, man.” Other stand-out tracks include Trance and Riches. Tunnel Vision is an electrifying psychedelic rock invasion. The video is worth a look too. The album closes with the ironic Power Drunk and its satirical lyrics: “Black Futures, you’d better get used to them.”
This is an album you can’t miss. In a world of more and more political and environmental uncertainty, where curating your life has become the norm this is a call-to-arms for the now generation.
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