Cookie Delicious rope-a-dopes you with the sweet science and fancy footwork of his killer new album Punch Dance In A Wooded Glen — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The third round of hook-laden, sonically experimental dance-rock and post-punk from prolific Winnipeg multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and DJ Joel Klaverkamp, the darkly intense Punch Dance In A Wooded Glen is a knockout from bottom to top. Propelled by irresistible head-bobbing grooves and hooky basslines, laced with stylish synths and glowing guitars, and topped with perfectly poised vocals straight from the valley of 1984, these seven tracks belong on a mixtape with LCD Soundsystem, Talking Heads and Viagra Boys.
Taut, lean and disciplined in both style and substance, the 26-minute release is a “cohesive and shameless followup” to Klaverkamp’s previous Cookie Delicious release Collaborations. The March 2024 album earned Polaris Prize consideration and has topped 55,000 streams to date. While the process of making Punch Dance In A Wooded Glen felt like a long time coming, Klaverkamp says the recording process took just a few months. Each song was written and recorded simultaneously, capturing that elusive moment of creative flow — a long-time goal.
Klaverkamp takes us through the disc one track at a time:
Mother’s Day Parade
“With stank-face basslines, syncopated woodblocks and commanding affirmations, this track is a standout. Its message? Mothers do the work, but don’t always get to finish the job. We, in turn, must learn to be our own caretakers. This is a feel-good anthem, ideal for late-night playlists.”
Fucks Slaps
“Yes, the title is explicit, and the lyrics follow suit. This track poses the unasked question: What if Dr. Seuss were a millennial?”
Make It Burnier
“A song that imagines life from the perspective of a fire pit at a music festival. Eager to foster connection, the pit seeks to be useful, even if it can never be loved.”
On The Outside
“Features the singular guitar wizardry of long-time collaborator Ava Wray, adding a distinctive layer to the album’s sound.”
Coldsweat
“A cover of The Sugarcubes (Björk’s pre-solo band) from Life’s Too Good — a formative album for me when it was released in 1988. This reimagining features Alexis Flower (who also provided the album artwork) on the scary sounds solo.”
Forest Nymph
“A swirling, psychedelic banger that just kinda sounds like drugs.”
Never a Moment
“This closing track reflects on the importance of prioritizing relationships, a reflective and intimate way to round off the album.”
Check out Punch Dance In A Wooded Glen above and below, and get into it with Cookie Delicious at his website, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
