Amber

Number are  Ali Friend and Rich Thair exploring and creating something different from what tey do in their main band Red Snapper. Number do post- punk, dirty disco basslines, wiry guitars, drum machines paired with live drums, vintage synths and keys, with Ali's vocals and songs. It's a sidestep from Red Snapper's jazz/ trip hop/ sci fi blues. Last week Number released a remix of their song Amber by long term friends A Certain Ratio. Martin Moscrop, Jez Kerr and Donald Johnson brought their Mancunian dub/ funk to the song and it became this...

Amber is an infectious and funked up blend of Tomorrow's World sounds, 80s punk funk and soul, and chunky 21st century rhythms. The finale, a pile up of drums and percussion as Ali sings, 'heaven', and the synths rise with him, is rather wonderful and not a little uplifting. An early 2026 musical treat, one I've been clicking play on repeatedly. Highly recommended. 

ACR previously remixed Number in 2020 on Number's debut Binary, a track called Wedge, and then Number remixed A Certain Ratio on Estate Kings, a track from ACR's It All Comes Down To This that was on Sounds From The Flightpath Estate Volume 2 last year.

Amber is the opening song on Number's second album, Pollinate, out last week, their early 80s, Talking Heads, NY disco, punk- funk sounds spread out over ten tracks. It's followed by Let's Stamp On It, a funky dark disco/ electro wiggle. Other highlights include Discoid- a slinky, gliding, synth funk protest against capitalism and consumerism- and Rebel Corners- a lone guitar line in a world of echo and percussion. On Smoke In The Skies Number go 80s alt pop, the New Order- esque playing and production a brightly coloured counterpoint to lyrics about Gaza, Syria and Sudan. 

There's loads more on Pollinate, something to enjoy round every corner, an album that's fresh, inventive and packed with tunes. You can listen and buy at Bandcamp.