Album Review: TEMPS – Partygator Purgatory

By Rosie Burgess | December 18, 2023

Words by Katie Hillier

James Acaster is best known for his off-beat comedy and wild alter-egos. So when news broke, he was working on a 40-strong collaborative music project, a concept album based around his childhood toy, the Partygator; you’d be forgiven for thinking it was another of his elaborate bits. 

However, Partygator Purgatory, the debut album from TEMPS, is no funny business. It’s an earnest and impressive musical endeavour. Originally intended to be part of a mockumentary alongside Louis Theroux, detailing Acaster’s transition from comedy to music (something always his first love), the project grew into a full-length album following the pandemic. On the record, Acaster swaps monologues about free bananas and dried apricots for beats, as well as taking on the role of the producer. 

Partygator Purgatory is a genre-defying project incorporating elements of hip-hop, pop, free-form rap, jazz, punk and rock. There are no limits, making for a fascinating head-fuck of an album with multiple layers and so much going on (admittedly, sometimes too much). 

By enlisting a collective of musicians featured in his brilliant music memoir, Perfect Sound, Whatever, Acaster achieves a real sense of community and collaboration, perfectly encapsulating what music should be all about. What TEMPS have done on this record is something many musicians strive to achieve within decade-spanning careers. 

So, while you may only know of James Acaster as the guy who had a breakdown on Bake-Off, or the comedian who goes viral every time another personality is cancelled, or the genie waiter himself, he’s very passionate about music, something that is incredibly evident within Partygator Purgatory. It’s not entirely easy listening and may leave you completely exhausted by the end, but TEMPS’ debut is a 2023 essential.

7/10