Jam Baxter - '...So We Ate Them Whole' - High Focus Records 2014.

globaltreereviews
Nov 21, 2014
2 min read

The wait is finally over, Baxter is back!

After teasing us this summer with the release of the Fresh Flesh EP, Baxter is back full throttle with

'...So We Ate Them Whole'.

As one fifth of Contact Play, one third of Dead Players, Vice Executive of SMB and one whole himself, it's fair to say, Baxter is unstoppable!

'...So We Ate Them Whole' is the latest insight into the marvelous mind of Baxter. It has been an eventful year for him and he has been scrawling along the way...

"I made a third of '...So We Ate Them Whole' while living in Arsenal squat getting wasted and not sleeping, residing in a room with no windows and several leaks in the ceiling, then summer happened and I snapped my arm in half at 7am in the middle of the Adriatic Sea. I wrote the next wave of the record sat in a hospital ward in Archway or between appointments high on prescription opiates trying real hard to get healthy. The final songs were recorded as the brassout eased and I could start to do normal things again."

The LP starts and the alluring instrumental by Telemachus, instantly has you captivated, enter Baxter, depicting a scene like no other.

"His skin hung like patchwork hammocks from his limbs

Gaping mouth like an ink stain splattered on his chin

The sweat cascaded from his palms

With a stance reminiscent of a circus bear balanced on a pin"

Baxter isn't known for his simplicity. His complex lyricism can often boggle the mind. I'm not gonna lie, I was often dumbfounded when listening to the 14 tracks intently. It's as though the guy has ingested a dictionary and is churning out every word so poetically.

Next up is 'Caravan' easily a favourite. As the bashment-esque beat drops, your limbs will instantly start twitching to the rhythm and the hook will lodge in your brain for days!

After just two tracks, it's clear London based Producer, Telemachus, was the correct choice for Baxter. There are so many layers to his beats, it's incredible. Emotive, alluring and mystifying with baselines that will keep the masses happy.

As the LP continues, Baxter shines. Although often gruesome at times, he has such a beautiful way of expressing himself. No-one does it quite like Baxter, that's for sure!

Illustrations by Scab.

Leash was the first single to be lifted off the LP accompanied by a video that's just, well...Baxter...

Baxter seizes to comply to the norm. That's one thing I love about him. As others quote 'Real Recognise Real' Baxter should definitely sponsor the slogan 'Keep It Surreal'

'...So We Ate Them Whole' is due for release on 1st December and it can't come soon enough! Be it on iTunes, C.D or Limited Edition Vinyl, Pre-Order your copy today, and be blown away by Baxter!