King Khan and the Shrines – Idle No More

This Berlin-based collective, known for their anarchic live performances, combine influences including Sun Ra, James Brown, the Velvet Underground and the Monks; and while Idle No More is somewhat more coherent and controlled than that melange might suggest, it does succeed in fusing elements of jazz, soul, funk and garage into something that still retains an air of effortless spontaneity. The restlessly uptempo rhythm section rarely lets up, but the variation in styles prevents the LP’s insistent tone from grating.

As Khan himself notes, Idle No More is probably the outfit’s most refined release yet, but it succeeds in exploring some impressively accomplished arrangements and structures without losing the Shrines’ immediacy and intensity. The LP might be in thrall to the past, but the exuberant energy of these songs, coupled with the gloriously bright, trebly production, demonstrates a rare ability to mix diverse ingredients into a punchy and cohesive whole. [Sam Wiseman]