Oreglo – ‘The Whirr’ EP review: buzzy jazz trio refuse to stay in their lane

5 hours ago 6

A thundering Foo Fighters-inspired guitar riff and a stuttering voice asking you to “please remain seated” and “fasten your seatbelts” is probably not how you imagined the second EP from London jazz collective Oreglo to begin. It’s the perfect introduction to a feisty flex of the NME 100 artists’ new chapter though.

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The three-piece (guitarist Linus Barry, drummer Nicco Rocco and Tuba player Teigan Hastings) came up in the same musical youth groups that Ezra Collective championed as part of their viral 2023 Mercury Music Prize winner’s speech – and you could hear that same free-flowing experimentation throughout last year’s brassy debut EP ‘Not Real People’. Even with the dance and dub remixes that were released as part of the expanded ‘DLC’ project, Oreglo’s music had a relaxed, meandering vibe that was all about the bewitching journey.

‘The Whirr’ is far more urgent but just as playful. After the warped stadium rock intro of the title track, Oreglo squeeze menacing post-punk, groovy jazz fusion, soulful gang vocals, sci-fi prog rock and a chaotic hip-hop breakdown into the pulsating five-minute banger. It’s an impressive rollercoaster of genres that never feels out of control – and that’s just the first track.

The rest of the record is just as thrilling. The funky, piano-driven ‘Don Gino’ has Oreglo playing fast and loose with song structure before a gloriously big finish, while the snarling ‘Speedbump!’ is a chunky rock tune – at least to begin with. After a stern cry of “enough!”, a crime drama that channels Eminem and Dr. Dre’s ‘Guilty Conscience’ unfurls over squealing electric guitars. It’s an outlandish track that adds theatrical flair to the band’s ever-growing arsenal.

‘Red Shift’ offers a jarring jump to the world of lush, cinematic soundscapes, while the closing eight-minute instrumental odyssey of ‘Bosté’ strikes a balance between grand musical showmanship and the band’s fizzing chemistry. The entire record is a swaggering showcase of giddy freedom but there’s a fierce focus to this version of Oreglo – each leftfield influence or unpredictable new direction is part of the same united master plan that demands your full attention.