”Little Joe” by the NY band Bueno is an absolute gorgeous distillation of free-jazz and ‘protopunk’ / new wave or whatever you want to label the sort of nervy, feet-shaking punk-rock highly influenced by bands like Liquid Liquid and Gang of Four. “Little Joe”, an adaptation from a 1959 song with the same name by the Doubles with The Gay Blades, is the kind of track that puts many of todays skittish post-punk bands to shame. The freewheeling saxophone adds that extra element of pulse and abrasive noise to a track that embodies many things I believe lacked on Parquet Courts’ Sunbathing Animal. As to the vocals, you’re forgiven for thinking that it sound a bit like James Murphy on early LCD Soundsystem tracks like “Disco Infiltrator” and “Yeah”. Overall, impressive stuff.
Check out “Little Joe” below and if you’re like what you’re hearing, head over to the bands Bandcamp page for more sluggish saxo-punk jams.