HENGE - ALBUM REVIEW

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Henge - Alpha Test 4 (Cosmic Dross) 

Release Date: Out Now

We all know Henge are bonkers fun, right? That's a given. However, with a new album out, we don't know what bonkers fun direction they're going to take next so the best we can do is drop the blue pill, clench our teeth and hold on as the roller coaster goes over the crest. This new long player, 'Alpha Test 4', opens up with the manic 'Get A Wriggle On' which sounds like the Mighty Boosh writing the theme tune to a new Saturday morning show on Vice TV for the kids of 90s ravers. 'Self Repair Protocol' continues the Clangers meets Space Invaders vibe before 'Wanderlust' slows things down a little manages to weave a little two-tone in for good measure. 

For a song about tiny beings, 'Tardirgrades' manages to combine Flat Eric bass notes, lo-fi keys and a beat that is borderline punk. 'DNA' is directly descended from Frank Zappa while 'Altered State' is an instrumental romp that will make you want to fight an end of level boss in a slightly frantic state until your fingertips start bleeding. The computer game motif goes large on 'Ra' which is seemingly performed on dueling Commodore 64s with those aforementioned drums doing their nut in the background. 

There's a mix of influences on 'First Encounter' from Mr B. the Gentleman Rhymer to Cosmo Sheldrake but with that lo-fi electro-jazz-punk genre still jumping up and down manically at the front of the stage, demanding your attention. The penultimate and title track 'Alpha Test 4' is a six minute electronic oddysey that probably has Matt Berry involved somewhere in the background before the whole thing comes to an explosive end on 'Asteroid' which is, essentially, what Stranger Things would have sounded like if David Lynch had directed it. This whole album is unpredictable, hard to get hold of and even harder to pigeon hole which is what makes it so much ruddy fun. Enjoy, you crazy cats. 


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