Cex Actual Fucking

• Words: Cameron Macdonald
• Label: Automation
• XLR8R Rating: /10

Rjyan "Cex" Kidwell fulfilled a recent erotic fantasy by recording himself racking up a videogame score while an escort pleasured herself in the background. The title of Actual Fucking, though, hints that we might need to wash our hands after listening-luckily that's not the case. Kidwell assembled this most accomplished work with a backup post-rock band consisting of members from Joan of Arc, Dismemberment Plan, and others. He softens his white-soul vocals to let the band dabble in everything from David Byrne-styled Afro-funk ("Baltimore") to midnight blues-dub ("Denton") to !!!-mused disco-punk ("Los Angeles"). Kidwell has been pegged as an imitator and Actual won't lift that curse, but he can still be as incorrigible as he damn well wants.