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Finally more from THE WORLD. The group that revived Groovy Post Punk a few years back and inspired a few dozen other Rough Trade sounding acts. Rhythm in the front seat, which would make the guitar the giant eyelashes above the headlights. That's right they're from Cali not Kingston. If you're addicted to ESG or Delta 5 maybe you can ween off with The World. "The sound of yesterday, today, and tomorrow" -paraphrasing someone important
Our take: Somehow I missed the World’s first LP, First World Record. We carried it in the store but it sold out in a flash and we weren’t able to restock it, and I never got around to getting a personal copy to listen to. Shame on me, because Reddish makes me want to do a deep dive to find out all I can about this band. You could describe the World’s sound as groove-oriented post-punk a la Delta 5 / Gang of Four / etc., but they’re so much more than that. Rather than just imitating those bands’ sounds, they share those groups’ affinity for rhythm. Each of the seven tracks on Reddish has a unique, toe-tapping groove, with the band jamming around that groove with a seasoned group’s agility. The guitar, vocals, bass, drums, or saxophone each might take center stage for a moment, then slide out of the spotlight so that someone else can do something interesting. Speaking of the saxophone, rather than the skronky or squeaky sax that most punk-influenced bands have, the World’s saxophone player can play in tune, often harmonizing with the other instruments. This gives the World the harmonic complexity I like from two-guitar bands, but with a unique timbre that sounds like no one but them. The songs cover a lot of stylistic breadth, from the dub-y “Kill Your Landlord” to the pogo-punk “Last Rhodesian,” to the playful, Madness-esque “Jackson 5,” but I love every minute. Wrap it all in a warm but clear recording and you have a real keeper.