James Domestic – Carrion Repeating

By RingMaster Review on April 19, 2022 • ( 0 )

Sometimes there is no escaping that bravery, adventure and strains of eccentricity can go hand in hand and if you need any evidence then simply embrace Carrion Repeating. It is the debut solo album from JAMES DOMESTIC who relishes an inherent want to confront expectations, the imagination and an array of aspects within everyday life.

James is no stranger to the UK punk/hardcore scene, a potent protagonist in songwriting and discontent over the past decade through bands such as THE DOMESTICS, PI$$ER, TOKYO LUNGS, HAZARD PROFILE, BOTCHED TOE and other ear grabbing projects; releases from whichever venture regularly drawing rich praise from numerous quarters. The release of a trio of lead singles has only been an echo of that success leading up to the unveiling of Carrion Repeating, songs which revealed yet still only hinted at the full eclectic and devilish character of his solo exploration.

Never hiding his aversion to authority and rage at a world corrupted from everyday life to global wrongs, or the widespread apathy accepting it, James wraps it with unpredictable and unique exploits within his first full solo outing. Each of its tracks offers cunning webs of suggestive words, his prowess as a published poet in mischievous mood within the release and equally each song echoes that enterprise with mazes of eclectic sounds and imagination, everything from punk, post punk, art punk, reggae, funk and much more digested in his inimitable DIY driven invention.

The album immediately had its claws into the imagination and lustful attention with its outstanding opener Itchy Itchy. A rhythmic pulse teases ears first, squirts of guitar adding further coaxing before its creator’s tones share thoughts on the discomfort of everyday life. For every passing second its gentle but firm nagging burrowed deeper under the skin, its Ian Dury meets Brain Brain (the eighties band of former PIL drummer Martin Atkins) breath irresistible and manipulative.

That last adjective perfectly fits the whole of the encounter, in word and sound it orchestrated body and imagination as musically, and maybe by coincidence, it bears a vein of nostalgic devilry in its intentionally bold enterprise and richly fresh adventure. The following Faze Out backs up the suggestion, the song a slice of electro punk pushed through psychedelically lit intimation. Discontent lines its tongue, venom its keys yet the song is a contagion of energy and dispute which had us furiously bouncing to its infectious invasion.

Holiday swings in next with soulful contemplation, melodic air wrapping its observation on bad habits and insular attitude abroad as a ska cured bassline strolls. Featuring the tones of Clare Gillett, the track hypnotically simmered on the senses, occasionally breaking into sun spotted serenade before Casual Vulture surrounded ears with portentous electronic intrigue. Predacious in its presence, menacing in its design, the track proved toxically mesmeric courtesy of its Krautrock/post punk/noise punk confrontation.

From one peak in the album’s lofty landscape to another as Giblets skipped in to dance with the imagination while flirting with funk punk inclinations. Favourite track was in its grasp in swift time as too addictive tendencies towards its animated sound, vocals and enterprise. As in all tracks, Domestic’s tones are low key yet with bursts of eager venturing on manic verve, an unpredictable incitement matched in the breath and intent of the sounds he weaves.

The hypnotic prowess certain tracks bear is no more irresistible than within the tantalisingly uninflected Push on Through, a song borne of its author’s numerous long night-time drives to and from gigs and perfectly echoing the repetitive and hypnotic pull of tarmac and signposts. Yet there is a beauty to that solitude and night lit calm which keys and chorus, again with Clare in league, celebrate in serene but spirited joy within the song’s darkwave/post punk travels.

Through the fiery rock ‘n’ roll of Bean Counter, electro punk flames heating up the exasperation any worker can relate to, and Weekend Carbs with its dietary and lifestyle observations within an early XTC hinting new wave/art punk weave, it is fair to say that the album only urged greater subservience to its call. The second of the two is another which had pleasure dripping, being quickly joined by the twee pop/funk nurtured Is That You?, Lucy James adding her flirtatious voice to the delicious slim line, thickly tempting shuffle.

Recent single, Mañana, swaggered in to continue the inescapable captivation, its initial warning nurtured wake-up call soon springing a greedily infectious stroll crafted in art rock twisted reggae aligning enterprise. Domestic’s procrastination on idleness and undelivered intent simply had us swinging with the additional invention of drummer Matt Gillett and the ever riveting sax flaming of Eddie O’Toole (Pi$$er/The Filaments/The Shitty Limits) adding extra spice to the soulfully creative recipe.

Never Enough completes the release, its reggae and funk fired threads woven into electronic and post pop dilemma as the song shines post punk hued eyes on the anxiety of modern life. As the whole of the release, it agitated feet and thought with real individuality; the peculiarity and multifarious invention of Carrion Repeating setting it magnificently apart from the history of James’ past endeavours and anything in the world of songwriting and sound right now.

Carrion Repeating is a joy in sound and word with an adventure in both which is sure to waggle rich pleasure the way of fans across a myriad of styles and genres.

Carrion Repeating is released on vinyl and digitally on 22nd April through Kibou Records (UK), TNS Records (UK), and Amok (Germany). Pre-ordering available now @

https://kibourecords.bandcamp.com/ https://amokrecords1.bandcamp.com https://www.tnsrecords.co.uk/ https://kibourecords.bigcartel.com/