Here for a good time

Couple musicians Tim Kinsella and Jenny Pulse conceive a new group and self-titled album under the name Good Fuck. Tim Kinsella is best known for his eccentric indie rock projects, most notably Cap n’ Jazz, and while not a stranger to experimentation, the sensual chaos and avant-garde lofi electronic poetry that is Good Fuck is a huge step in a new direction. The sound is strange, at times abrasive and echoes themes of the cryptic side of human sexuality. While nothing about the music or lyrics feels overtly erotic, the vague and mysterious harmonic poetry intermingled with heady electronic beats and harsh synths feels dirty and “wrong.”

“We Keep it Light” starts the album off with a deconstructed club beat layered with dissonant and harsh synths. The couple group chants surreal poetry. The tone of the vocals is detached but purposefully seductive. The piece is an interesting exploration in evoking subtle feelings of uncomfortable curiosity. “En Garde” is kind of a mess compositionally; the beat seems too detached from the synths which don’t flow very well with Kinsella’s out of key vocals. “Jenny Dreams of Pies” features the group trading off lines of surreal imagery. The vocals are drenched in psychedelic effects and the beat is a combination of thumpy kicks and crunching white noise.

“Celibate” is diverse with droning synths, crunchy samples and glitchy electronics. The track “Fawn” features Kinsella chanting over a cavernous distorted beat. Most of the tracks on Good Fuck feature a diverse array of surreal electronics and skipping repetitive beats. Kinsella’s singing is amateurish, but his voice further estranges the tone of the music. “Physics” is a highlight. The beat is groovy and the lyrics sung by Jenny feel genuinely erotic. It’s probably the least dissonant song here and feels like the most complete idea.

A lot like human sexuality, Good Fuck is imperfect but full of good ideas. The production is diverse but cohesively detached, harsh and mysterious. The vocals often feel underwritten and are delivered with pretentious pseudo-sexuality. But overall “Good Fuck” is worth a listen and is a densely layered casserole of novel surrealism and subtle erotic energy.