Golden Teacher – No Luscious Life
Golden Teacher's debut full-length record is a chaotic, wonderfully soundtracked journey from one of Glasgow's most exciting bands
“This is not an album by any intention or through any concept,” explains the accompanying press release for the latest musical offering from Glasgow-based party outfit Golden Teacher. Don’t be fooled by the eclectic sextet’s nonchalant dissertation, though – this debut LP packs plenty of rhyme and reason into its seven wide-ranging compositions.
No Luscious Life begins in earnest with the excellently-titled Sauchiehall Withdrawal, a kinetic pop-funk opener that takes issue with our current socioeconomic climate and begs, 'I’m always working so hard / And for what?' A dramatic about-face follows in the form of Diop, a percussive instrumental piece. No sooner have you recovered from Diop’s jungle-driven journey and No Luscious Life thrusts you into the bubbling synthesized beats, handclaps and hi-hat hustle of Spiritron, a love-struck electro ballad that purrs.
You should be getting the gist by now that this assured debut full-length is about as multifarious as it gets. From the eerie, lascivious shudder that propels Shatter (Version), to the ambient orchestral beauty of its eight-minute eponymous closing track, No Luscious Life tosses you from one moment and mood to the next with no reprieve. It’s a chaotic, wonderfully soundtracked journey from one of the best underground musical collectives to come out of Glasgow.
Listen to: Sauchiehall Withdrawal, Shatter (Version), No Luscious Life