LUKE ESCOMBE AND THE CORPORATION – MANTOWN

Luke Escombe and the Corporation deliver their newest album, a bluesy effort driven by guitar and Escombe’s trademark deep vocals. Mantown is a soulful nod to an old southern style; even the cover looks like it is straight out of a Tennessee whiskey advert. The disc package features sepia styled images with full song lyrics to all 11 tracks; it’s an old-school touch to the music buying experience that you just don’t see anymore. This latest offering from Escombe draws comparisons with Nick Cave and Flight of the Conchords but it’s an entirely new style of music he calls “flip flop”. Which has been described as funky, literate pop mixed with flippant hip-hop. All of the songs on Mantown have a rootsy, rock and roll feel with a dark comic twist. From tracks like iMan, a tongue-in-cheek look at society’s obsession with mobile apps, to Drop Tha Bomb, a satirical comment on over-the-top airport security. It’s a thinking man’s album, ideal for listening to with a swill of aged bourbon and a healthy sense of humour.

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