APOSTLE OF HUSTLE - Eats Darkness

Andrew Whiteman's previous effort National Anthem Of Nowhere saw him exploring a world of crisp Cubano indie-rock (sort of like Spoon lost in Havana), and the result was a high point in his songwriting. Eats Darkness is a decidedly different affair, less about songcraft than collage, rhythm, and inter-band communication. The album plays out much like a hip-hop record, with cut-and-paste one-minute skits rudely bashing into proper songs. It's fun and frenetic, but the real sticking power of the disc comes from the considerable talents of drummer Dean Stone and bassist Julian Brown. Always a big part of the AoH experience, Darkness gives them the wheel and the result is a sinewy, taut collection of tunes where lyrics are often reduced to little more than repeated mantras. It's a bold move for the band, but one that successfully mixes their rhythmic gifts into an original gumbo of musical influences.