The rise of Maruja, a Mancunian quartet that mixes post-rock and post-punk components, hybridized with jazz and noise elements, continues willingly: less than a year after the publication of the valid “Knocknarea”, through which they managed to outline a convincing distinctive identikit, which in addition to mix of sounds mentioned, includes themes of a social and philosophical nature expressed in well-made lyrics, the formation is back with another small taste, the EP “Connla’s Well”. The title of the new work refers to Irish mythology, where the so-called Well of Connla is a supernatural place, also called “Well of Wisdom” or “Well of Knowledge”, and for this reason sought after by poets and philosophers, as well as one of the springs of some rivers of Ireland. A recurring element of local literature, it was described by William Butler Yeats, while he was in a state of tranceas filled with “the waters of emotion and passion, in which all purified spirits are entangled”.
The short and instrumental title track amalgam dronedark-jazz and noise-rock, closely recalling the work of the Swans in the monumental “Soundtracks For The Blind”, and acts as a forerunner to the six minutes of the theatrical “The Invisible Man”, in which hypnotic and persuasive sax intertwine, And drumming tight. Sometimes used by the band as effective opener in phase livethe enthralling and infernal “Zeitgeist” is more pressing, where the protagonists are the singing pseudorap by Harry Wilkinson, the anxious sobs of the saxophone, memories breakbeatsAnd bassline powerful, converging into an explosive closure. The “spirit of the age” illustrated in the verses of the track is dominated by suspicion, hatred and the god of money, while the energy sought at the level of sound it is that of groups like Rage Against The Machine and Prodigy, contaminated by math-rock and post-hardcore tunes.
How do we ever admit defeat when we just rise again?
I’m feeling hateful too much heat is burning through my veins
Admit defeat, I’m on my feet I think I’ll start again
I see death within the walls of every place I’ve been
The money speaks so loud
It’s drowning out the voice of men
The level of the themes and sounds chosen remains high with “One Hand Behind The Devil”, which juggles between post-punk and destructive post-HC lashes, and studies the complexity of morality and power dynamics within society, showing how the latter, together with personal interest, corrupt the spiritual and moral values of human beings. The finale is entrusted to the instrumental and cathartic “Resisting Resistance”, where the main voice is obviously entrusted to Joe Carroll’s alto sax, between post-rock arias, usual jazz details and space drifts.
Of notable impact, “Connla’s Well” dissolves in just over twenty minutes, offering a handful of songs with which Maruja manage to easily maintain their space in the spotlight, once again confirming themselves as one of the most interesting realities of the period, to be continued to monitor carefully for the time to come.
05/17/2024
