Bill Orcutt & Jacob Felix Heule

Colonial Donuts

BY Bryon HayesPublished Jan 6, 2016

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Since re-emerging late last decade from an extended post-Harry Pussy hibernation, angular blues guitar firebrand Bill Orcutt has been quite prolific. The past few years have given rise to a number of solo and duo recordings that showcase his unique array of string-shredding techniques and timbres. 
 
On Colonial Donuts, which arrives courtesy of Orcutt's own Palilalia imprint, he's teamed up with experimental skin wrangler Jacob Felix Heule to splatter a series of guitar/drum free rock missiles across a spinning slab of wax. While their tongues are planted firmly in cheek with regards to the cover art — an array of hideous Bob Marley tattoos — the two are nothing but serious when it comes to their music-making. From blues-based blowouts to melodic melancholia, the pair improvise their way through a number of stylistic endeavours, never staying put for long. 
 
The jarring shifts in tempo and direction may be daunting for some listeners, but fans of energetic guitar/drum romping will eat this music up and beg for more.
(Palilalia)

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