Idjut Boys Album

Daniel Tyler and Conrad McConnell, aka Idjut Boys, have been producing music under various guises for 20 years. Only now have they taken the time to release a long player of original music.

As they advised Bill Brewster recently, “What we’ve tried to do is make an LP, four tracks a side on vinyl. You stick it on your stereo, have a cup of coffee and read the paper. When it’s finished you stick the other side on. So we’ve made an LP in the traditional way.”

Cellar Door is released on Smalltown Supersound. The Oslo based label was set up in the late 1990’s focussing on jazz, rock and electronic sounds. The varied output of Smalltown has seen releases from the likes of Todd Terje with his recent ‘It's The Arps’ EP through to the alternative rock sounds of Sonic Youth. With Supersound’s eclectic output, it comes as no surprise that ‘Cellar Door’ isn’t the all out late night discothèque pump that many followers may have been hoping for.

Drifting by in 40 minutes, ‘Cellar Door’ highlights more of the duo’s song writing ability than their clinical ability to move dancefloors. Opener ‘Rabass’ sees Andy Hopkins (who has worked with the likes of Zero 7 and Groove Armada in the past) lay down the lush and well produced guitars with gorgeous results, ‘The Way I Like It’ and Going Down’ show the Idjut’s more laid back, vocal side and ‘Love Hunter’ shimmers with Balearic intent.

When they do turn on beats, they do so with devastating effect with recent single ‘One For Kenny’. Dedicated to UK house legend Kenny Hawkes who died suddenly (and tragically early) just over a year ago, it’s piano break is a stunning lift from the dark, hypnotic groove layed down from the outset. A proper record. 

‘Cellar Door’ has received mixed reviews. I don’t see what there isn’t to like here. The production is great as always and when played as it should be, the LP has a certain flow to it that should be complimented given the array of styles they touch on.  Make yourself a brew, pick up the paper and put it on the hi fi. You’ll probably find yourself doing it again.

While we’re mentioning Kenny Hawkes, the revised design for the Kenny Hawkes memorial '25 Years of London House' t-shirt is complete and will be available to buy soon. The proceeds will go some way to helping to pay for a Kenny memorial that friends and fans are helping to raise money for. Based on the 'London House Tree' map of house club history, which was drawn by Miles Simpson for Faith Fanzine in 2008, it’s been updated it to ensure it includes more recent developments in house music. It’s a great visual account of London club culture over the years. The t-shirts will be available soon so we’ll keep you updated as soon as we hear anything.