Track By Track: The Cactus Channel

‘Wooden Boy’ is the second ultra-diverse album from Melbourne’s top instrumental funk 10-piece. Below, bassist HENRY JENKINS tips his hat to everything from M Bison to Soviet vodka.

[Historical image is withheld pending rights review.]

‘Who is Walt Druce?’

A song dedicated to the handsome, charming and ever-mysterious Walt Druce. If you see him, say g’day for us.

This tune was composed to take our minds off of this clandestine character, a Bond-like figure. The mystery was eating us up and only a horn-driven, guitar-laden dancer was going to do it properly. Best listened to in comfortable socks post cucumber and mayonnaise sangas.

‘Wooden Boy (Part 1)’

Boom-ka. Ka-ka Boom-Ka. He’s just a Wooden Boy.

Perfect for the midnight cab ride with a dubious destination, sketchy driver and a message for Smokey, this was probably the most collaborative effort the band has undertaken. It begins with the drummer’s swagger and the guitarist’s nimble fingers and ends with the shaker that everyone was waiting for. This is taxi music, sans radio.

‘Jorge Buccio’

Hold your napkins tight, and your cowbells tighter.

Flute: yep.
Cowbell: yep.
The framework was there; all we had to do was insert some Pretty Boy Swag. One drum break and plenty of horn squeals later, all the B-boys and B-girls had a new dance. With a tasty nugget of boogie at the end for those that couldn’t keep up, it has it all – just like every pasta should.

‘Wooden Boy (Part 3)’

Big L threw a Christmas party and invited your dad.

When you listen to The Cactus Channel, the first thing you’ll hear is the influence of Christmas and one of the ’90s’ most influential hip-hop artists, Big L. This song song combines both camps. With tuned car horns blasting holes in the ground and Swamp Dawg leading the way.

‘Laika’

A pooch in space; a pooch in a Roland RE-201.

The horns howl, the guitars bite, the bass growls and the whole thing spins your head around like a swig of Soviet vodka. A tribute to the pup that put the first woof in the cosmos. Enjoy the heavy-but-weightlessness that the tune has to offer. Big ups to Roland.

‘How Did This Happen?’

Rhetorical, and danceable.

The tune is loose enough to breathe and tight enough to hang on to your hips, just like a good pair of parachute pants. The drum fill that brings in this whiskey-tempo tune might not tickle Phil Collins the way it tickles us, but that’s probably good. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

‘X-Ray Bear’

A look at the Grizzly’s soul.

Chessboxin’ drums, Ethio-tinged horns, guitar harmonies on that Gregorian tip and organ tasty like Parmesan cheese. This is Baloo scratching his back with the nastiest tree in the jungle and checking everyone out while he does it. So let that tenor sax sweat your mummy and daddy like a cotton jumper in summer and dance like they’re looking right through you.

‘Bison Slide’

If Lalo Schiffren or Isaac Hayes ever scored Street Fighter II Turbo.

Named after M. Bison’s signature attack, this tune is a throwback to the lush, soulful soundtracks that blessed cinemagoers of the 1970s. With an inimitable groove put down by the group’s rhythm section, the journey that follows is one similar to many trundled by Jim Kelly in years previous, except that now the journey is pixelated and stoned.

‘Did Everyone Meet Siadon That Night?’

I’m gonna be a daddy now, I got a little baby girl.

Born in Bosnia, from everywhere. He asked for a little be-bop kit; all we had was an MPC. But instead of drum samples, it’s ’60s cop-show noir with a tasteful sprinkling of Soulja Boy Tell’em. Turn it down so your mum can knit properly.

‘Black Flag and Lady Bountiful’

The middle of the outback, yearning for a steakhouse.

This was an attempt to sonically capture the initial loneliness, the glimmers of hope, seemingly impending sorrow and the beautiful conclusion that accompany the legends of lost swagmen who turn up in steakhouse restaurants across the country.

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‘Wooden Boy’ comes out today (Sept 2) on CD, vinyl and digital through HopeStreet/Fuse. Launch dates below.

Thurs, Sept 5 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC [w/The PutBacks, The Seven Ups + DJ Chris Gill]
Fri, Sept 6 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC [w/Sex on Toast, The Do Yo Thangs + DJ Manchild]
Sun, Sept 29 – Wave Rock, Hyden, WA
Fri, Oct 4 – Blue Beat, Sydney, NSW
Thurs, Oct 10 – Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast, QLD
Sat, Oct 12 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, QLD
Fri, Oct 18 – The Loft, Warrnambool, VIC
Sat, Oct 19 – Rocket Rooftop, Adelaide, SA