Sparkle Division - Foxy (2023) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

William Basinski re-convenes with Preston Wendel and Gary Thomas Wright for a brand new SPARKLE DIVISION album, a cheeky disco and lounge romp that's inspired by a glam A-list Hollywood party in 1969.

If you've only heard Basinski's tape-mangled ambient work, 'FOXY' might come as a surprise. There are no crumbling textures or fraying loops here - SPARKLE DIVISION is high camp, and as lavish as it gets. The band was formed in 2016 when Basinski's studio assistant Preston Wendel played him some of his music and persuaded Basinski to play his saxophone once more. Now a few records in and with an enhanced personnel, SPARKLE DIVISION has penned 'FOXY', a concept album about a psychedelic party at the top of Beverly Hills.

As you might imagine, it's gloriously lively material, that's dramatic and mischievous from the beginning. 'Have Some Punch' is a loungy intro, with a slippery 4/4 underpinning Basinski's sax playing and plenty of exotica/lite jazz strings - but as the press release reminds us, the punch is dosed with LSD, so from here things get markedly more psychedelic. 'Here Comes Trouble' starts to add fluttering, lysergic synths, and by the time we get to the eight-minute centerpiece 'The Punch!', the music has dissolved into a haze of breathy sax notes, double bass plucks and frozen drones.

But Basinski, Wendel and Wright are far from done. They conduct a Blaxploitation groove on 'Bitch Fight', and try their hands at liquid D&B on 'Slip and Slide' before ending on 'We Were There', the chintziest lounge number of the lot. Sparkle by name, sparkle by nature.

1969. Two gorgeous young interns in the film industry get invited to a glamorous A-list Hollywood party in the Trousdale Estates – in one of those fabulous pavilion-style mid-century modern homes at the top of Beverly Hills. They go in their best mod clewths. Eyes popping at the technicolor scene of Hollywood stars smoking and drinking in the sunken living room, they do as instructed and have some punch and watch – wallflower style as drama ensues…oh, and the the house is owned by Foxy, the pimp and drug dealer who everybody there owes munty, hunty…and he’s ready to get paid! Oh yeah, and the punch is dosed with LSD25. They manage to make it home, panties and purses and shoes intact and will never forget this party for as long as they live.

Tracklist:
01. Have Some Punch
02. Here Comes Trouble
03. Foxy
04. The Punch!
05. Bitch Fight
06. Oh Yeah!
07. Slip and Slide
08. We Were There


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