SONG REVIEW: ‘Signal from the Noise’ – BadBadNotGood

Canadian trio BadBadNotGood have emerged from the woodwork of standalone singles and collaborations with the likes of MF DOOM (RIP), Thundercat and Nick Hakim to drop ‘Signal from the Noise,’ the lead single from their upcoming album, Talk Memory. It will be the group’s first studio album since 2016’s IV.

When I heard about the release via the group’s Twitter a few days ago, a single thought came to my mind:

Did I make the right choice seeing BadBadNotGood instead of Billie Eilish at Laneway 2018?

I thought about a distinct memory of moshing to the group’s signature hip hop-influenced instrumental jazz* during their late-afternoon set, like the good tote bag-carrying individual that I am, and came to a hazy conclusion:

Who can say for sure.

In any case, this new track was heralded to be 9 minutes long (almost half the length of the new Vince Staples album woohoo!) so I was keen from the outset.

The track opens with a few seconds of quiet, grating static before a cloud of dissonant keys begin to build a brooding atmosphere. The opening minutes stick to an improvisational feel, with the keys and sax trading meandering bars, and drummer Alex Sowinski providing emphasis by way of tom rolls and echoing cymbal crashes.

Notably, the absence of Sowinski’s usual driving and funky presence – the backbone of other great BBNG tracks like ‘Confessions’ and ‘Speaking Gently’ – leaves this section of the track sounding more like something Australian trio The Necks might pull from the abstract depths, as opposed to what would pair well with verses from Mick Jenkins or Ghostface Killah.

Nevertheless, the group commits. Just when it starts feeling like a buildup to a drop that will never come, the track explodes. A fill from Sowinski at the 3-minute mark is all it takes to bring Signal from the Noise into frenetic territory. Leland Whitty gives a blistering sax solo (or is it guitar? I really can’t tell!) over a breakbeat that grows ever more chaotic – glorious. The two exchange chops, showing that they’re able to build ambience and intensity with equal measure and after a lengthy showcase of pure power, things cool off completely.

Through more wandering keys and synced-up drums reminiscent of a number of tracks from IV, comes a hypnotic and euphoric climax from Whitty yet again. The final section of the track passes in a trance, with the deft layering of sax flourishes held together by a dreamy keys ostinato. As the sax overtakes, we’re left amongst fluttering and disjointed sounds which slowly fade, stuttering the track to a close.

The track is also accompanied by a music video, directed by Duncan Loudon and starring Steve Stamp (of People Just Do Nothing fame). The track functions as an emotive score for Loudon’s video, which sees Stamp take on the starring role as an authority defying performance artist. Featuring everything from chalk stairs, headphones fixed on with duct tape, and marionette harassment, it is better watched than described.

While previous releases and a laundry list of collaborators have established the group’s surefire talents in the realms of hip-hop and jazz fusion, ‘Signal from the Noise’ sees BBNG moving in a newer, and undoubtedly grittier direction. Though it takes a few minutes to build to it, the group’s return after five years away from being the marquee artists of their own creations leaves me refreshed and excited for what’s to come with the rest of the album.

Check out the sheet music for ‘Signal from the Noise’ at the group’s website.
Talk Memory releases on October 8.

* though they’ve always eschewed the label.

Image by Jamal Burger.