Larry Pink The Human - M1xtape
Full disclaimer – your reviewer is not sure what makes a mixtape a mixtape and not an EP. This compilation of songs doesn’t feature any tracks segueing into each other, or mixed together, therefore it’s hard to quantify what defines it as such. Perhaps it’s just the title of the release. Regardless, it’s a fine collection of songs.
Confusingly, LARRY PINK THE HUMAN is not a solo act but a collaborative project between Laurie Vincent (guitarist and songwriter of punk duo Slaves) and Jolyon Thomas, best known as a producer with a diverse list of credits including U2, Royal Blood and Kendrick Lamar. Born out of a desire to make music ‘for people to cook their eggs to’ rather than the incendiary rock music Vincent was known for, the pair released a string of singles in 2020 which immediately managed expectations. Sadly, the best of those singles, ‘WASTED DAYS (INBETWEEN)’ doesn’t make the cut.
Unfortunately, nothing on M1XTAPE quite hits the same heights, with the possible exception of ‘ELEVEN11_GTR-SONG’ (I don’t know why everything is capitalised either, apart from perhaps to make reviewers’ lives more difficult), but the intention of emotional connection is still conveyed. Tragically, Vincent’s girlfriend and mother to his two children passed away last year (Slaves’ winter tour of 2019 was cancelled so the guitarist could spend time with her) and, while it’s absolutely not for us to say that it informs the songs included (the press release refers to Thomas also having suffered profound grief), it’s hard to think otherwise.
As you will have ascertained by now, anyone expecting a re-tread of Slaves’ finest moments will be disappointed. This is unashamedly emotional pop music, with all the bells and whistles. Of course, Slaves are conveyors of emotion too, but frustration and anger is replaced with melancholia and yearning.