The Ex Return With New LP Catch My Shoe, Hear First Single "Cold Weather Is Back"

By Nick Helderman

While studying abroad a few years back in Slovenia, I stayed at a hostel in the capital, Ljubljana. The hostel sat inside the walls of a cultural arts center called Metelkova, a sort of artistic and social oasis set in the heart of the city. One night, I was informed by a professor that a "Dutch punk band" was playing with an "Ethiopian jazz saxophonist" at one of the venues located in Metelkova. I didn't think much of it at the time and decided to pass on the show, exhausted from a day of walking around the city. This decision was, most definitely, one of the dumbest I have ever made in my life. A few days later, I watched video that another group member had taken and was floored by what I saw.

Back in 2006, legendary anarchist punk band The Ex collaborated with Ethiopian saxophonist Getatchew Mekuria (or Mekurya) to produce Moa Anbessa, an album that that epitomizes fusion as it mixes the aggressive, energetic muscle of The Ex's punk roots and Mekuria's one-of-kind jazz style. Moa Anbessa would be my introduction to The Ex, a band that has been true to their roots and ideals for years, baring their collective soul since 1979. Their last release as a band was 2004's double-LP Turn, but they toured the world with Mekuria supporting Moa Anbessa up until the first half of this year.

2009 marked the band's 30th anniversary, but it wasn't until this year that they released an album of brand new material: Catch My Shoe. The album is the band's 25th CD/LP release on their own Ex Records and 123rd release overall. While Catch My Shoe has already been released in Europe (out September 6th), it won't receive it's official release Stateside until January 25th of next year via Carrot Top Records. The album is the first without original vocalist G.W. Sok, who left the band in 2009, and the first with new vocalist Arnold de Boer of Zea. It was produced/recorded by Steve Albini at Electrical Audio in Chicago. Hear the first single from Catch My Shoe entitled "Cold Weather Is Back" and watch video of The Ex performing with Getatchew Mekuria after the hop.

The Ex - "Cold Weather Is Back"


The Ex are a very percussive band, using muted string hits, open string hits, and all sorts of instrumental noises to accentuate rhythms. And while it's this characteristic that really emphasizes the punk aggressiveness in their sound, they never come across as abrasive. In a mix of jazz brass and punk agitation, "Cold Weather Is Back" proves that the band has, once again, been able to reinvent itself and progress, despite losing a founding member.

Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex, Live @ Café de la Danse (Paris, France) - 05.06.2010

Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex, Live @ Gala Hala (in Metelkova) - 23.05.2009

BUY: You can pick up Catch My Shoe on Amazon, iTunes, or directly from The Ex here.



Tracklisting
1) Maybe I Was The Pilot
2) Double Order
3) Cold Weather Is Back
4) Bicycle Illusion
5) Eoleyo
6) Tree Float
7) Keep On Walking
8) Life Whining
9) 24 Problems

The Ex
Official Site