Edge of Reason
Young’s latest work
It’s not easy for modern-day musicians to put something out into the world that is truly unique. But Murray Lachlan Young and new band Blabbermouth have arguably done so with their new album.
With its release on August 21st, Edge of Reason offers a fresh sound that is perfectly suited for a year that’s been like no other in recent history. It’s so incredibly different – and doesn’t that just sum up 2020?
Murray Lachlan Young is surely a name that most people will already be familiar with. He’s a man of many talents, listing himself as a poet, author, playwright and performer. His career actually spans more than 25 years, including his current role as a poet in residence on BBC 6 music.
Meanwhile, Blabbermouth is a relatively new band on the scene. The group is made up of guitarist Lu Edmonds (PIL, The Damned) and drummer Mark Roberts (Massive Attack, The Godfathers & Neneh Cherry).
The Edge of Reason – which is listed as being by Blabbermouth vs. Lachlan Young – was originally supposed to become available earlier this year. However, it was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic. An autumn tour was also in the works to give people a proper taste of the sound, but likewise this is currently on hold.
The album, however, will surely earn a degree of fanfare even in the current circumstances. It’s a collection of spoken word and music, which at times cleverly juggles rather heavy themes with a much-needed sense of lightness and comedy.
Just look at the opening track, titled And On The 7th Day. This psychedelic introduction takes inspiration from the Book of Genesis – only with a chocolate biscuit-themed twist for good measure.
For instance, it starts: “In the beginning there was tea, yet it was formless and empty. And the great biscuit maker said ‘let there be biscuits’.”
It’s already made its mark on social media, boasting thousands of views and 174 ‘likes’ on the music video posted to YouTube.
Such significance to each song
The Edge of Reason features 10 tracks altogether, with And On The 7th Day being the ideal showcase for the sound and light-heartedness that listeners can expect throughout. Biscuits, of course, aren’t the only unexpected symbol that is used before all is said and done.
Take track three, titled Gingerbread PPL. This tells the story of an uprising of gingerbreads, complete with references to revolutions and insurgencies. It’s strangely appropriate to modern times, while – thanks to the lyrics and music – doesn’t become too heavy hitting.
The song begins: “Gingerbread people, gingerbread men and gingerbread women, gingerbread lives, gingerbread, gingerbread communities, gingerbread politics, gingerbread lies, gingerbread anger, gingerbread oppression, gingerbread division, gingerbread hate.”
Gingerbread PPL transcends into track four, called Dolphins (take over). This – as any listener will surely begin to anticipate by the time they get to the listing – isn’t a benign and baseless title. Instead, it’s actually a tale about what will happen when dolphins take over.
It starts with Young’s rather serious spoken voice repeating the words: “When the dolphins take over, all will be won.” The strength of this song – much like the other tracks – is that you’re curious to understand the inner-workings of Young’s mind as he speaks. He actually makes you anxious to hear what will happen when the dolphins take over.
Thankfully that’s answered as the song progresses, with the lyrics:
“Everything will become very minimal, and the paupers will dance with the soap star and the floppy-finned orcas will all be set free and Venice will become the capital of the world.”
This song is a great reminder that you’re listening to a story just as much as you are listening to a piece of music. In this way Edge of Reason strangely occupies a space in which it is something in which you should make time to focus on, but would also make for ideal background music.
So, where does Young get the inspiration for the songs from? Well, from all over it appears – including the Mail Online. Back in 2016, the news outlet ran a story with the headline: “Invasion of the cannibal slugs! They’re bigger and slimier than out native breed.”
This article might have seemed rather forgettable to the average reader at the time, but it actually provided Young and Blabbermouth with the basis to write the song Cannibal Spanish Sex Slugs.
Cannibal Spanish Sex Slugs is the second track on the album, which brings to life the secret world of the Cannibal Spanish Sex Slugs. It starts with a whispering, before detailing: “Cannibal Spanish Sex Slugs, oh yes that’s what I said. Cannibal Spanish Sex Slugs, leaving trails ravished dead.”
According to the track, “vulgar, crude and randy is these wicked creature’s game.” Once again the song is perfectly in line with the rest of the album (even if it would presumably be totally out of place on any other piece of music released in recent times!).
A closing appreciation
As mentioned, there are 10 tracks altogether. Just some of the other titles that listeners will be able to enjoy include song such as Horse Whisperer, This Poem Is Tired and Motorways. It also ends with a special bonus track called Outro-Credit (Return of the Slug), in which a robotic voice signs off on the record by thanking all the contributors who helped make it happen.
All in all, it’s fair to say that Edge of Reason really breaks the mold. It’s not just a piece of music that can be enjoyed by all different types of listeners, but also a fascinating insight into the minds of the people who put it together.
It was put together between 2018 and 2020, showing that a lot of thought has gone into getting it right to avoid the comedy sounding facetious and overly tongue in cheek. It’s ideal for making you think and making you laugh – so there’s probably no better time for it to be available than in 2020.