There are two ways an artist can go when breaking free from the shadows of a former group and going it alone. They can either adopt the style of their band and continue with a well practiced formular, or go completely rogue and try something totally new. Rising from the ashes of nu-rave band Late of the pier, frontman Sam Dust is back with his new project La Priest. Not so much of a new band as a new solo moniker, Auteur Dust shows that he is more than just one trick pony, and comes back with something so completely different. ‘Inji’ is an album that stands on its own. Often progressive and psychedelic. Always experimental. It embraces several different musical styles, whilst still keeping in with his unique sound throughout. It starts with full on prog-rock style opener ‘Occasion’ before moving on to a more R&B influenced track ‘Lady’s in trouble with the law’. You never know which way it’s going to turn next. The only thing that keeps similarities with the LOTP is general insanity that Dust injects; the twisted drum loops and the random bleeps. He has never been one to follow trends or go with the flow, and this album continues with that. He is constantly pushing boundaries and creating new sounds, on this album even more so than he has in the past. It’s obviously the record he’s been wanting to make all along.
Debut single ‘Oino’ still stands out like a beacon. It is one of those songs that sounds like a classic from the very first listen, and even after many more spins never gets old. Follow up single ‘Party Zute/Learning to love’ is an epic eight-minute twisted disco track that builds and builds in to a huge dance track..
There are a number of fantastic instrumental tracks scattered throughout that seem to tie the album together. ‘Lorry park’ is a slow-acid track, whilst ‘Fabby’ is almost a waltz. And as for ‘Gene washes with new arm,’ well that has to set a new precident in random song titles. I would love to know where the inspiration for that one came from. There is a definite soul to Dust’s voice. Somewhat unexpected from the former lead singer of an indie/nu-rave band. But that sound continues throughout several tracks on the album. None more so than on ‘Night train’. It is a deep house record that seems to draw inspiration from those early New York house records of the eighties. It all comes in to a close with ‘Mountain’. Maybe the closest thing you’ll find here to a love song and sounds almost theatrical in parts. In a rare tender moment Dust sings ‘was I born to live you?’ Once again it is a whole new sound for the album.
I don’t know if LA Priest is the future for Sam Dust. It has taken seven years to get out, since his band’s debut, so who knows how long it will be before his next release. But it is great to have him back with such an interesting new sound.
