Elijah Minnelli takes a break from his duties at Breadminster County Council and returns to Accidental Meetings with a follow up to 2022’s sought after Creamed Horn. Whereas that Keith “Radioactive Man” Tenniswood-mastered missive was an instrumental affair, this new EP is a song-based set. Demonstrating Minnelli’s ongoing musical development and increased confidence. 

Unkind is a fragile, melancholy duet, with a strong post-punk feel, that seems to map a failing relationship. Performed partly in Japanese by Osaka-born artist Kiki Hitomi – ex of King Midas Sound – it’s a slow, sad, bottom heavy skank that shuffles to Minnelli’s signature altered accordion like wheezes and whistles. The second half drops into dubwise, with Hitomi’s ethereal wailing and scatting stalked by shots of scurrying percussion. Her cries caught in echo.  

Low Country rides another loose, plodding, trodding augmented hand drum rhythm. World weary, with harmonium-like drone, Minnelli moving between English and French, this has the air of a traditional sufferers’ hymn. Folk handed down from generation to generation within a population, a people, condemned by birth to a life of poverty and persecution. 

Torpid’s beatless buzzing and Ha Re Krishna / Sita Rama-esque mantra serves as an intro to Bed Swap, which adds muted dub techno touches and theremin-like frequencies, while raising the tempo closer to carnival. All be it more morris dance than batucada. 

Elijah Minnelli’s Ball & Socket can be ordered directly from Accidental Meetings. The 10” features a bonus B3.