Vulfmon - Here We Go Jack (2022) Hi-Res

Musicophiles who love Vulfpeck's deliciously bizarre neo-retro funk can rejoice: Here We Go Jack, the debut solo album from band founder Jack Stratton. Behind the Vulfmon alias, Stratton created an eclectic mix of funk, R&B, as well as dark classic and indie rock. The result is an astonishing collection, which is not surprising.

Since the debut of Vulfpeck in 2015, Stratton has proven himself an impeccable composer, thanks in particular to his sober, but stimulating arrangements. On the instrumental level, it has once again kept its promises. From the nostalgic and psychedelic groove of Boogieman to the beautiful simplicity of Alone Again, Naturally, Stratton proves once again that his compositions are incomparable.

That said, there are a few hiccups on this album, whether or not you're used to the “Vulf” brand. Let's Go Let's Go is a particularly glaring example. The pop-rock plot is remarkable, but Mike Viola's voice is grating, youthful and sometimes almost unbearable.

We could ignore it by saying that it is a matter of taste. However, it is intentionally boring, as evidenced by the end of the song, unwelcome and gratuitous: thirty whole seconds of Mike Viola who shouts “wou”. Then the short Bach Pedal interlude might be enjoyable, if it didn't feel like it was included just to contrast with the annoying bit that precedes it.

Despite Stratton's seemingly limitless talent, this first offering from Vulfmon demonstrates that creator's inability to let things go. While most of these songs stand on their own, there's a haunting inside joke feel to this album that only the most dedicated fans will pick up on.

The arrangements, excellent, are diluted by unnecessary subversion, which seems to only serve to make the album less commercially viable. And when they compare these tracks to the best tracks from Here We Go Jack, listeners may wonder what happened to the excellent album they started listening to.