So prolific were Dope Body at the time of recording their Lifer album (Drag City, 2014) that Kunk ended up in the can, minus a few finishing touches, at the same time. One way to minimise future effort at least.

Ten new songs laid down on tape by way of relaxing between the rigors of proper recording. Hence the overall looseness of Kunk, highlighted particularly well in the laidback ‘Down’ with its rumbling, groovy bass part trundling along beneath the thoughtful and free-floating guitar lines.  

That everything contained here started life as a jam remains very evident throughout due to the distinct lack of vocal parts in many of the songs and the open-ended felling of the bulk of the material – songs begin with little if any build-up and finish on the whole pretty abruptly, signifying that they’ve served their purpose in working out tensions or a specific idea. That the results also managed to end up as 99% fully fledged tracks is pretty good luck.

‘Void’ is probably the most punishing song on the album, six minutes of unrelenting hollering and pounding of instruments to close the album out. A lot of tension needed spun off that day it seems. No doubt some of those previously mentioned finishing touches were to do with the running order of Kunk and the thought put in to this being the final track pays off well as you find yourself led up to it and then flung off the edge as it stops dead.  

Having managed to give themselves a free pass in respect of the writing and recording of Kunk, the sounds contained within it promise that the next album Dope Body fully apply themselves to should be one helluva listening experience.

Kunk is available from amazon & iTunes.

Autumn on the south coast of Britain this year will see the initiation of two new festivals - Together The People in Preston Park, Brighton over 5 & 6 September followed by Rockaway Beach in the Bognor Regis Butlin's over 9 - 12 October.

Together The People aims to deliver an event with an emphasis on engagement between festival goers and local social bodies & charities as well as the usual mix of music, art & cinema. Along with the main stage in Preston Park this aim will be striven for by the inclusion of a pop-up 'soapbox' and a collaboration with Brighton Picturehouse cinema. 

Adult tickets for the whole weekend cost £75 (+ booking fee), for which you'll get to see performances from Super Furry Animals, Levellers, Martha & The Vandellas, Brakes, Glass City Vice and The Rocking Horse Club amongst many others. 

Rockaway Beach finds Butlin's teaming up with music retailer Fopp to bring together a line-up featuring classic indie headliners supported by a number of hotly tipped younger acts, all under one roof and with no need to slum it in a tent or forego a wash for the festival's duration.

Johnny Marr, Spiritualized, The Fall and Echo & The Bunnymen top the bill whilst such newcomers as Errors, Young Fathers, Lola Colt, The Telescopes and Pinkshinyultrablast are amidst the supporting cast of 30+ performers.

Prices start from around £89 (event entry + accommodation) but various options are available depending on the type of apartment you're after etc. Full details about each event's location, ticketing and the rest can be found via the active links at the top of this article.