Jangus Kangus and the angular bounce, artful precociousness, bold brilliance of "No Future In This"

 

"Dating lacks romance and I know / I don't stand a chance in hell when you / Are all I think of / And all I want these days..."

The angular bounce, artful precociousness, bold brilliance of "No Future In This", by Los Angeles indie hybrid Jangus Kangus, turns on artful dimes, swings with power pop prowess and emotional abandon. Texturally, there is grit and guitar distortions when it makes sense but for the most part this feels encased in 90's jangle pop, 60's Farfisa-esque drones, 2000's vocal retro edges of 70's proto punk / new wave emotionalism that is seeded from 50's /60's free formed girl group temperaments. I guess what I am trying to say is that there is a lot of cultural and musical era bridging going on, at least in my mind that it is hard to parse in my head but easy to feel in my heart. These sonic shifting and sifting is wonderful and singularly (as core stuff), for me, expressed in the drum beat, the angular sharp guitar stabs and songwriter / musician Jasmine Sankaran's wonderfully free vocal performance. 

I apologize for getting, or trying to decipher it all. I think that some of my friends think I am mad or a mad scientist when it comes to how music hits me. All this and great (sort of) diaristic lyrics that I feel compelled to paste here. 

"Dating lacks romance and I know

I don't stand a chance in hell when you
Are all I think of
And all I want these days
It's so hard to stay present
Always busy planning things that I
I intend to do
Like getting to you
I know there's no future in this
But there is no future left for me
Anyway

So tell me is it hard to imagine
What is on the horizon?
What I thought in the moment
It won't be the same next time
Because people change
And so will I

Memories getting stronger
Getting stranger every passing day
The danger of being found out
Oh what would we say?
I am your cherry on top
You are the only one
Who hasn't stopped talking to me

So tell me is it hard to imagine
What is on the horizon?
What I thought in the moment
It won't be the same next time
Because people change
And so will I

I know there's no future in this
I know there's no future in this
I know there's no future in this
Anyway"

"No Future In This" exists on Jangus Kangus' debut full length album "Fortune Cookie". All songs are written by Jasmine Sankaran and realized with the outstanding talents / artful distinctions of Steph Anderson (keys/backing vocals), Antonio White (lead guitar/backing vocals), Dan Perdomo (drums), and Ryan Kellis (bass). 

I have yet not dipped into the rest of the album (shame on me) but plan on doing so.

Bravo. 

-Robb Donker Curtius 

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ffkGB84XjlzXei7veohCr

https://www.instagram.com/janguskangus/

https://janguskangus.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JangusKangus/

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/janguskangus/fortune-cookie-2



Fortune Cookie is the first wide-scale, above-ground release from Jangus Kangus, LA’s foremost purveyor of imagist garage surf– raw, witty, tuneful, quasi-punk, defiantly indie – and the going concern of Jasmine Sankaran, musician, songwriter, and creative dictatress. This LP marks a significant leap forward from Sankaran’s previous scrappy DIY releases. Her band is at its most robust yet, with Steph Anderson (keys/backing vocals), Antonio White (lead guitar/backing vocals), Dan Perdomo (drums), and Ryan Kellis (bass) matching her intensity, intelligence, and commitment. Because nothing happens in a vacuum – at least, nothing good does –her songs are given fresh infusions of oxygen from Moosecat Recording producer Mike Post, who helped shape the album into a cohesive, dynamic, self-contained manifesto, provocation, and keepsake. Even as she curses herself in song, Sankaran revels in her artistic progress, kicking around tempos and genre conventions, creating carefully tailored and fittingly complex arrangements, and sharing cryptic, cathartic, compelling confessions honoring the Pinteresque push-pull of relationships between people too smart for their own good. It’s been a long, soulful, cerebral trip for Jasmine Sankaran from her home in Moorpark, California, glued to the oldies station in her mom’s car, to the remarkable artistic breakthrough of Fortune Cookie (a title chosen as something that sounds cosmopolitan while in fact being 100% Californian). -Emerson Dameron

Jangus Kangus, art rock, indie rock, alt pop, hybrid pop, blendo music, progressive, lead by songwriter / musician Jasmine Sankaran, "No Future In This", debut album "Fortune Cookie", personal storytelling,