John Joseph Wardle aka bass legend Jah Wobble started his career with post-Punks Public Image Limited (teaming up with a certain John Lydon), playing on the albums Public Image: First Edition, Metal Box, and the Paris Au Printemps live record. After his departure from that band, Jah would embark on a highly eclectic solo career exploring all manner of musical styles and collaborations far too extensive to list here.

 

A Brief History of Now (Cleopatra Records), his latest release, sees a return to the genre he helped define as well as a collaboration with another musical legend in the shape of Jon Klein (Specimen / Siouxsie & The Banshees). As a huge Banshees fan this proved a major catalyst in my decision to cover the album.

 

‘Last Exit’ the album’s first single, features both Wobble’s distinctive London twang in the spoken word vocals and trademark bass sound. He is more than ably assisted by Klein’s sheet-metal guitar which brought back memories of the late, great Keith Levene. An excellent opener. ‘Wrong Side of the Line’ is a little soul-inflected, although I wouldn’t go so far as comparing it to David Bowie‘s Young Americans as it is much more subtle. Despite the relatively downbeat nature of the lyrics the music was surprisingly buoyant, furthermore vocally the repeated spoken syllable of ‘Ha’ from Laurie Anderson‘s ‘O Superman’ came to mind.

 

 

‘Soo 135’ is a fantastic instrumental, wailing Albert Ayler sax accompanies the ominous rumbling post-Punk that treads a similar ground to No Wavers The Contortions, while, ‘I Am, I Am, I Am’ employs the type of mellow, cool-dub reggae one would expect from Wobble.

 

‘Fashion World’ is like a cross between Wire during their ‘commercial’ mid 80’s phase on A Bell is a Cup…Until it is Struck and Pulp style indie, vocally recollecting Jarvis Cocker. This is Wobble at his most “accessible”, and it works! ‘A Brief History of Now’ seems to tip its hat to War, particularly ‘Lowrider’, and by extension there is a tasty LatinX flavour to the track and ‘I am the Fly’ is a fun mash-up of Killing Joke fashioned industrial guitar-work mixed in with some Syd Barrett and Robyn Hitchcock lyrical eccentricities.

 

‘Driving’ feels a little bluesy with some hints of solo Iggy Pop and Lou Reed thrown in along the way. The track may appear somewhat silly, exuding rock ‘n’ roll cliches but its done with a knowing nod and a wink. ‘This is the Love’ appears to be inspired by Americana with some hippy idealism thrown in, which let’s face it, we could all do with right now, meanwhile ‘Master of Time’ is a brutal takedown of middle class pretensions and the facade that goes along with it.

 

Although not a fan of Britpop in the slightest, I was reminded of some of the biting social themes sung by the likes of Damon Albarn and the aforementioned Jarvis Cocker. Even in 2023, class remains a curiously British obsession so it feels entirely appropriate that Wobble would tackle the subject.

 

’80 Beats Per Minute’ is another delicious instrumental in the spirit of ‘Soo 135’ but a little less frantic and with more psych flourishes, finally ‘Socially Functioning Psychopath’ is a pure oddity akin to a 21st century King Crimson which helps conclude the album on a proggier note.

 

Whether I’ve been able to do the album justice in this review is open to conjecture but Mr Wobble has certainly done justice to his legacy. Another fascinating release and worthy addition to what is already an impressive body of work.

Buy the album here:

https://cleopatrarecords.bandcamp.com/album/a-brief-history-of-now

 

9 / 10

REZA MILLS