I had the Ezra Furman on order for a while, then I cancelled it thinking it was George Ezra, whose last album I enjoyed but was not was sure about a second that quick, then realising it wasn’t George nor the guy from Vampire Weekend after a visit to Rough Trade in London, where ‘Perpetual Motion People’ (comes with a bonus disc of covers) this clearly is Ezra Furman from Chicago, so I brought it and what a wise decision that was!
What a breath of fresh air, an album bursting with fun, excitement, depression, indeed, life itself. Full of energy and full of life’s experiences, “My arms around the toilet, like a long lost chum” for instance!
The melodies are bright, lively and 60’s influenced, the lyrics are intense, well thought through words in rhythm and rhymes. 13 songs from a potential 80 made the album so there must be a lot more of these gems to follow.
Perpetual Motion People was recorded with Ezra's’s current band The Boyfriends who are made up of Jorgen Jorgensen (bass), Ben Joseph (keyboards, guitar), Sam Durkes (drums) and Tim Sandusky (Sax). The band now based in San Francisco recorded the album at Ballistico studios in Chicago
When you buy this album I strongly recommend you read the sleeve notes where Erza describes his life from 17 to to date. Its an open and honest journal, at one point in which, Ezra runs from the grind of his cinema job and vows to pour his energy into music. with the hope of making a really good record, well the guy has done precisely that with ‘Perceptual Motion People’.
Erza Furman promises to be a real star …. grab hold of his coattails now!
Pete
11/11
1. Restless Year
2. Lousy Connection
3. Hark! To the Music
4. Haunted Head
5. Hour of Deepest Need
6. Wobbly
7. Ordinary Life
8. Tip of a Match
9. Body Was Made
10. Watch You Go By
11. Pot Holes
12. Can I Sleep in Your Brain?
13. One Day I Will Sin No More