Dufus
The Last Classed Blast
Anti-folk
is as meaningless in practice as any other musical genre-fication,
it denoting a collection of disparic bands and artists making
a chaotic mash of lo-fi often bewildering sounds.
Seth Faergoaliza’s musical/art collective Dufus are rightly
respected as one of the most prolific, original and influential
bands to emerge from the anti-folk 'scene' and in their ten years
of being have been criminally ignored by wider audiences.
The Last Classed Blast, the band’s tenth album
is an incredible record which wears off-kilter, experimental song
structures like a gleaming new suit, albeit a home-made, rag-tag,
multi coloured one.
Dufus have an exceptional control over music and lyrics, the game
they play is a dangerous one and could allow their music to explode
uncontrollably all over the place. On the contrary Dufus produce
music that is strangely cohesive for the manic mash of sounds
and ideas they throw into this recording.
Within the music Faergoaliza uses his vocals as an additional
instrument often presenting the lyrics in the form of beat poetry-esque
rhythms that add an extra level to draw you into the crazy musical
world of Dufus.
Not all of the album is built on the theatrical and the bizarre
and at times the band’s experimental restraint provides
some highly accessible pop moments like the subdued, shimmering
vocal harmonies on ‘Tutu’ and the wonderfully slow
chugging rock of ‘Heaven is waiting’.
The Last Classed Blast is like stepping into a child’s doodle
- rough, slap-dash but ultimately insightful, loveable and offering
innumerable glimpses at genius. Bands like Dufus are essential
within the rock music spectrum to keep complacency and mediocrity
well in its place.
by Mary Boyd
