Currently enjoying “Living in a Giant Candle Winking at God” by the Transit Kings

It’s not exactly unfair to call the Transit Kings an Orb side project; it’s currently a trio featuring Alex Paterson, a core member of both groups, along with musicians Guy Pratt and Dom Beken. Fellow Orb co-founder Jimmy Cauty, better know for his work with Bill Drummond as the KLF, was also a founding member of the Transit Kings – but as in the case of the Orb, he left the group prior to the release of their first full album.

The album itself is full of familiar territory in this sense. It’s rich and epically ambient, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously. Indeed, it’s aggressively silly at times, like everything else Paterson has ever gotten his hands on.

Beyond that, however, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to compare the record to an Orb album. The musical focus and direction of this record set it in a separate class from the more basic, production-oriented ambient house genre. This is something different – and frankly, it’s something better than the bulk of what the Orb has put forward in the last decade.

Tracks like “Concourse” are somehow as mellow as they are large. “Boom (Bombay)” blends a far too eclectic range of genres into a surprisingly cohesive and exciting track. “Japanese Cars” is as precise, efficient and stylish as its name would suggest.

There are some excellent guest appearances as well. Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr does a particularly great turn on “America Is Unavailable,” and comedian Simon Day brings a terrific level of personality and subtle emotion to “The Last Lighthouse Keeper.”

A rather great record all around, and one well worth checking out. Hopefully it won’t be their last.

Posted in Currently Enjoying