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Following the single ‘Restless Year’, Ezra Furman releases his new album Perpetual Motion People, on 6th July (Bella Union).
The album delivers a cascade of memorably bristling hooks driven by a unique splicing of timeless influences with a restless urgency and combative spirit that shines through the American’s vocals and lyrics.
Ezra’s new single ‘Lousy Connection’ has just premiered on Stereogum.
Perpetual Motion People was recorded with Furman’s current band The Boyfriends at studio Ballistico in Furman’s home city of Chicago (he’s currently based in San Francisco).
Consequence Of Sound described ‘Restless Year’ as “a ball of energy, bouncing around genre borders with glee. There’s the rebellion of ’90s indie rock, a string of sunshine-y ’80s pop, and the snarl of ’70s punk.”
Furman’s inspirational blend of seminal influences, from Fifties skiffle and doo-wop to Sixties garage and the righteous mix of urchin charm, winning melody and caustic humour touchstones Jonathan Richman and The Violent Femmes.
But Furman is a true original, equally tapping the godheads of power pop and country blues, with honking saxophone as much a lead instrument as guitar.
‘Day Of The Dog’ was dedicated to “all those who are rejected, abused, destitute, misunderstood, bullied, forsaken, broken-hearted, hopeless, sick, strange, lonely, alienated, widowed or orphaned” – brilliant testimony to his mixture of outsider-angst and life-affirming energy, which is always reflected in his electrifying stage persona.
‘Driven, hooky, moving. Better than Prozac or a sunny day’
MOJO
‘A work of rare honesty, beauty and exhilarating bravery’
Sunday Times, Culture (Album of the Week)
‘He may be out there on his own, but he’s irresistible’
The Arts Desk