Kim Salmon & The Surrealists: Rantings From The Book Of Swamp

- Kim Salmon’s latest album with his band, The Surrealists is a true lockdown album. Rantings From The Book Of Swamp was recorded this year in Melbourne during the beginning of the pandemic and invites the listener in as if they were attending an actual gig at a dark and dingy dive bar in Melbourne’s inner north. The songs were recorded in succession, very much in the fashion of a live show, and the between song banter implies intimacy, as if the listener were right there with the band, something I think would be appreciated by those who are in isolation right now.

Kicking off with a Welcome to Country and the first track I Cracked This Thing, this version of the Surrealists delve into familiarly dark territory. The band have always had a fairly fluid membership: this time around with jazz drummer Phil Collings, improvisation is key and Kim and the rest of the band are revelling in it. Despite the dark feel there is a real undercurrent of fun and spontaneity, as Le Party Girl reveals through its disco beat and lyrics that are almost a psychotic chant.

Generally the songs are quite long, but I think this indicates the level of enjoyment the band are taking from this exercise and it allows the improvisation to run a little wild, taking the listener along for the ride. Louis XVI is equal parts history lesson and commentary on the aristocracy, one which could easily be transferred to the current situation in any number of countries; it seems to be something of an exercise in expressing frustration. That's followed by You're Looking Too Close, a minimal but deep analysis of jealousy and pain.

The band play with sounds and beats and the listener almost feels part of the process, like they're sitting in the corner of the studio, quietly sniggering at the in-jokes between band members and watching the creative process unfold.

Released by the man himself, and available for download on Kim Salmon’s bandcamp page, doing that legwork on his own feels like Kim is making his best effort to keep it real in unreal times. I guess you could say the same of this record: a reassuringly familiar, darkly humorous slab of The Surrealists we love. It's a slice of a reality, fondly remembered, even if the gig it depicts never got a chance to happen.

- Judy Jetson.