Review R&B and Soul

Surprise Chef

Friendship EP

Big Crown • 2023

While not quite as prolific as their Melbourne counterparts in King Gizzard, Surprise Chef’s three albums and a handful of singles in less than four years show a certain creative drive. Their »Friendship« EP is the follow-up to their last release »Education & Recreation« from the previous year. The six tracks were written during the sessions for the album. Yet they are by no means rejects or B-sides, but would have just fleshed out the album unnecessarily with another 24 minutes of playing time. The EP format allows the individual tracks to shine more brightly and showcases the quintet’s full range. Their cinematic, purely instrumental neo-soul pays homage to David Axelrod (»Rosemary Hemphill«), is at times driving and upbeat (»Friendship Theme«, »Spiky Boi«), at times cautiously groovy and atmospheric (»Over The Moon«). 

Surprise Chef seemingly shake these six finger exercises out of their sleeves at the drop of a hat. They glide effortlessly and organically from one mood to the next, which allows you to hear that the five musicians are also connected by a deep friendship and that the title of the EP should be taken literally. Then again, the observation that Surprise Chef could sound like the soundtrack to a non-existent film also comes to mind – trite, but true. In any case, you can set your head spinning with »Friendship« until the next album comes out in the coming year.