Electric War
by Little Barrie & Malcolm Catto

This album contains many of my favourite genre of music, whether that be funk, rock, blues, jazz or psychedelic (with a tad of hip-hop thrown in) all melded into what I consider the best album of 2025 (so far!).

That combination of style might feel like the band cannot make it’s mind up what it is but in fact they use those influences to create something that is very much their own.

Little Barrie (the fabulous Barrie Cadogan on guitar and Lewis Wharton on Bass) collaborating with drummer Malcom Catto to produce this cracker of an album.
I have seen this album described as having a “raw, understated and minimal feel” which is pretty accurate which I guess is not that strange when you consider you only have three instruments on show here.

It’s always useful to tell people who they sound like. If that’s appropriate. The band tend to hit a great groove and stick to it blending elements of Silver Apples with Can, with a funky drum and bass combo.

Throw a little Hendrix esque guitar in there and an occasional Stone Roses groove and you have a sound that I find captivating.

A couple of later tracks venture into Led Zep territory as well as a little discordant jazzy stuff.

The album certainly has many nods to the past but feels like something that is completely new. Quite a feat.