Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

Culture is under threat. Art is being intimidated by the powers that be that suggest in not so secretive tones that the human experience of being alive and feeling all that comes with it, every aspect of poetry, the paintbrush upon silken canvas and the melody that runs through the head, is nothing, not worth a damn compared to the economic slug like festering opportunity of toiling the day away to earn a different dream, one of consumerism madness.

The Cultural Thrift, the means to tighten not the purse strings and making do with the plenty that you have got, but always being sold the next new must have gadget, the car that can turn heads or the cosmetic surgery that diminishes your natural beauty, all in the wake of taking up time with throwing yourself into the culture that all humanity has to offer, on every form and in every possible enjoyable way. Thrift is not a bad thing but when it narrows, by choice or design, the ways in which a human being can express themselves without travelling into a cul-de-sac of stunted conversations, then thrift is the daftest piece of prudence going.

For Ashley Reaks and Joe Hakim, Cultural Thrift is a form of wonderful outspoken delivery which combines the force of the English language to a lofty height, whilst never betraying the vision of the working class voice that strides like a proud gazelle on the central plains of Africa, one that takes no truck from the carnivore stalking its rump backside and when cornered, like the best of scribes, comes out fighting, not with sword or handgun, but with raging antler or sharpened quill.

The songs are wonderfully savage but with elegance wrapped around them, charm laced with the acidity of a silver pen and with fellow musicians Maria Jardardottir on vocals, Dave Kemp on saxophone and accordion and Nick Dunne on guitar and E-Bow, tracks such as Albert Hofmann’s Bicycle, the excellently mused The Principles of Paranoia, Imposter Syndrome and Everyday all making their gravel toned entrance with the flourish of a debutants ball, the album is one of contrasting cool and side smile luxury.

There may be an attack on culture across the land but it feels like whilst there are artists such as Ashley Reaks and Joe Hakim prepared to shout for the right to be heard and express a freedom that is under threat, then Cultural Thrift will encourage many to stand alongside them.

Ian D. Hall