Wesley Gonzalez shares Christmas single
Single release: out now
Label: Moshi Moshi Records
More info: Wesley Gonzalez’s Facebook page
Reviews for new album 'Appalling Human', out now on Moshi Moshi Records
"Dark subjects and happy music are a classic combo, and in a lot of ways this style suits him and his voice much better than Let's Wrestle."
Brooklyn Vegan
"on this second album Wesley channels his learnings and faults with a cathartic funk, retaining the Mark E Smith humour that made his debut such an interesting departure."
DIY
"So the next time someone tells you you’ve got to face up to your past, point them in the direction of Appalling Human, a record that makes a convincing argument that a good bassline can solve most of life’s big problems."
Loud & Quiet
"This second solo release from Gonzalez is a fantastic piece of work, permeated with 70s pop influences, crisp synths, and far-out disco flourishes."
Record Collector
"From relationship failings to poor comedic efforts and acerbic remarks aimed at his peers, Gonzalez is extremely charming in his boundless self-deprecation set to effervescent 80s synth-pop."
The Quietus
DIY indie punk turned pop sophisticate, Wesley Gonzalez is today sharing new Christmas single 'Red Man Is Back Again (With A Lonely Dose of Pain)’.
This comes after his second album 'Appalling Human’ was released earlier this year via Moshi Moshi.
Of the single and its accompanying video, Wesley said: "When approaching the video for 'Red Man Is Back Again (With A Lonely Dose Of Pain)', it seemed obvious to visually represent an actual Red Man but what kind? Santa Claus seemed obvious, The Devil too, so we decided to go for a pissed up Freddy Kruger character, he's your bastard uncle.
Danny the director and I discussed how we would approach the visuals and decided to try and go for an ambient yuletide, with little obvious references apart from referencing Christmas horror films and The Krampus, the central European Goat Demon who punishes children."
Watch 'Red Man Is Back Again (With A Lonely Dose of Pain)’ below.
The track features on a Moshi Moshi Xmas 2020 EP alongside the likes of Callum Easter, Moderate Rebels, Summer Camp, Aldous RH, Bathdays & Vanity Fairy which is out now.
About Wesley Gonzalez:
London's Wesley Gonzalez first made a name for himself as the leader of Let's Wrestle, whose tuneful and eccentric punk earned critical accolades and a small but devoted audience with three full-lengths, including 2011's Steve Albini produced 'Nursing Home'.
Gonzalez wasted little time forging a solo career for himself in the wake of his former band's demise. He assembled a live band for his solo work. and expanded from the guitar-driven music of his former band. He fielded an interesting concoction of classic 70's pop, soul, and indie rock, which he described as being influenced by Donny Hathaway and Sly & the Family Stone. Gonzalez released his debut solo record 'Excellent Musician', in 2017, then a follow-up LP 'Appalling Human' in June 2020.
Press images available here and here
Photo credit: Holly Whitaker
Find Wesley Gonzalez: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Spotify