- Bruce goes avant-pop.
- It took a little push from his peers for Larry McCarthy, the Bristol-based DJ, producer and promoter known as Bruce, to get the confidence he needed to realise his potential as a singer. His releases before the pandemic were exclusively dark, wonky beats. The moment came during some pre-festival activities for artists at FFKT Festival, where McCarthy sang Bobby Caldwell's "What You Won't Do For Love" at a karaoke bar and stole the show. Artists like Mount Kimbie and Alva Noto approached him and asked why he wasn't singing on his own music. In the ensuing years, he would test out his voice on some compilations and EPs. For his new album, Not Ready For Love, he stands front and centre.
McCarthy's second LP is a stirring exploration of experimental pop that evokes the maximalist production styles of Arca and SOPHIE. This is especially apparent during the climaxes of "In The Pines" and "Lasso," or the woozy, Thom Yorke-style wailing on "Cala Mastella." Only loosely tethered to the dance floor, Not Ready For Love is a departure from his signature left-field grooves, with the occasional breakbeat sample here or trip-hop interlude there. McCarthy renovates his sound to make room for his own angelic croons, replacing most of the funky rhythms heard on his debut album, Sonder Somatic.
It's not until "Antler" that McCarthy finds that balance between his production and his voice. Singing the words from a poem by Isabella Martin, he sets the stage for a shapeshifting flurry of jazz, jungle and techno, the drums completely taking over around the two-minute mark. That's not to say that only the production-focused tracks are the strong points here. McCarthy's voice is most delicate on "Flakes," one of the least dancey tracks on the album, and the production is appropriately minimal to match—a tip-toeing bassline and not much else. At other times, it feels like the elements are in a constant battle of push and pull, like on "Broken." The kinetic UK garage swing, grumbling bassline and ringing sirens are plenty on their own, and the vocals only serve to obscure what could have been a great club cut. That tug of war between priorities might well be a sonic metaphor—the album is inspired by "navigating a complicated open relationship"—but it's also occasionally frustrating.
As a songwriter, McCarthy shows immense promise, weaving painfully honest tales and going from adventurous ("Flakes"—"I'm just happy here with you to do the things you want to do / We got plenty time to lose, let's have them both no need to choose / If it's time to go to bed just sink right in and hold my hand / Maybe I'll read to you then tuck you in and tie my shoes") to frank trouble in paradise ("Complaint"—"So here we are again / Dancing and tripping over words unspoken / What was crystal now's unclear"). Last May, McCarthy wrote on Instagram that he found his voice, and unlocking a new level to his artistry makes an exciting moment for anyone. He has a powerful new addition to his toolbox, especially through the soul-bearing lyrical content, but he's searching for the best way to pair it with his production. The message of the record comes through loud and clear. It just needs a bit more fine-tuning.
Tracklist01. Rush Of Love
02. Dappled Light
03. Cala Mastella
04. Flakes
05. In The Pines
06. Hot One
07. Antler
08. Complaint
09. Broken
10. Zampano
11. I'm His Ex
12. Smaller Things
13. Lasso
14. Moonsistent