Every so often the resolute snapper and scribbler from Fighting Boredom head to a pub and listen to a load of music sent, bought and discovered between them, they speak their thoughts which often deteriorate over the stage of the evening and then I set them down for you to peruse. As it’s been a good while since the last singles review in the pub the playlist was well over an hour long, so we have split the reviews into two parts. This is part one. Part two to follow.
We arrived at the chosen pub at sixish to find that every table had been reserved from seven. Pointless staying there then, so we had a pint and left without even listening to a note. This is relevant, we were already a pint into our drinking capabilities before we’d started, this is not usual. So by the time I post part two the reviews will be well and truly ‘drunk reviews at the pub’. Anyway, here you go, as always, have a read, have a listen and argue your case.
Bosse-de-Nage – In The Name Of The Moth
With big nasty guitars and a growly voice this has a nice texture to it, gothy and doomy, then into a Sonic Youth, Mudhoney guitar mash up in the middle, atonal and ace, then back into track, I think the noisy the atonal stuff is the best bit. The Photographer says that it takes too long to get going so the beginning is pointless, it sounds like Protomartyr after the doom with the tom toms and then it changes and doesnt, I think it changes too much and has got no real flow.
Shape Navigator – Sternenabfall
This has an eighties synth and beats, it’s flowing and cool, but a tad too long to be honest. The Photographer says that the title sounds like some sort of heart medication. It’s plinky plonky with a retro feel on it, a tinge of tangerine dream, it’s alright. I quite like it shuffling along nicely, little bit like Utopia Strong, if you like that you’ll like this.
Kekht Arakh – Three Winters Away
This is ace Black Metal with a hilariously evil vocal. The Photographers says it’s a bit overproduced and a bit of nice pantomime dame evil.
Dead Pioneers, Cheap Perfume – Nazi Teeth
A brilliant slice of Anti-Nazi Native American Punk Rock with Cheap Perfume too and the message is… it’s okay to punch nazis. The Photographer says. It’s great, punchball nazis.
Brother Wallace – Electric Love
A wonderful proper old school soul groove, this is fantastic. The Photographer says it’s got great orchestration, that great soul blues vibe, and it’s beautifully made. I like it.
Sunflowers – Workworkwork
I like this one, electronic synth punk, it’s a great little track. The Photographer says that it’s another one of when it gets started it’s all out bonkers fury.
Ribbon Skirt – Wrong Planet
I think this is very Throwing Muses, proper weirdness with a female singing to an ace alt rock groove – I Like it. The Photographer however says that it did not retain my interest. There’s nothing wrong with it, but…
Fotocrime – Unthinkable
This has big guitars and crunchy drums and a nice gravelly vocal. It’s got a good groove, I like it. The Photographer says that it gave me the heebee geebees with it’s overtones of Killing Joke but luckily it didn’t go full Geordie guitar but pounding drums are great its okay but definitely sounds like Killing Joke.
FindingWays, Sebastian Rochford, Patrick Walden – Til The Day I’m Gone
This is atonal post punk whittling about, it’s okay but fairly pointless, NEXT! The Photographer says that it’s a pointless mess, no direction, no intention of any direction and bored me, it just wobbles on for ages.
Mclusky – I Know Computer
Nice horrible punk, great song. The Photographer says that it just didn’t get going and smash me in the face and that’s disappointing.
Poison Ruin – Eidolon
A proper punk/metal crossover, atmospheric as fuck and heavy as a brick wall falling on your head with a brilliant groove and gravelly vocal. The Photographer says it’s just like.. (mimes guitar playing), an epic build up and then it just kicks into fast metal.
Final Gasp – No Hand To Lead
This one is more metal than the last one, just as epic though and great guitars the fast bit is just ace. The Photographer says the Mission goes metal, goth meets metal. (Note to readers the Photographer was a true goth.)
Billy Fuller – Rummer
A weird electronic stream, but it doesn’t really do anything though. The Photographer says that it’s trying to pull off the ZX Spectrum vibe and failing.
JakoJako – Kunquat (Rolando Remix)
A nice muffled dance tune, simple and repetitive. The Photographer says that much as I like the return of DJ Rolando, this is just a little bit wet, tinkly winkly and makes an odd sound – it’s not a dancefloor filler is it.
The Silver – When The Moon Is Three
This is Heavy Metal, big and dumb, with a screaming vocal that the Photographer won’t like, and it’s about three minutes too long. The Photographer says that it’s far too long, takes too long to get going and then its an average screamo track.
The Claypool Lennon Delirium – The Golden Egg of Empathy
A track that has a Funky Chillies bassline and weird vocals, really not sure about this one, better when the vocals come in. The Photographer says that it sounds like a 1980’s Robert Fripp track with a Red Hot Chilli Peppers bassline, doesn’t retain my interest and I hate the chilli peppers. (Cue five minute rant about the RHCP that we’ve all heard before…)
New German Cinema – Swirling Pain
This is very eighties synth cold war feel, like ultravox, I like it. The Photographer says that if I wanted to go to sleep this would help, just a little bit dreary, a bit can’t be arsed.
Laibach, Wiyaala – Algorithm
Laibach give us a Terrible Euro dance track… The Photographer says I don’t like Laibach, they’re shite, if you don’t like it you can meet me in the car park. This is even more shite than usual.
MAQUINA. – Agony
Nice guitars, shouty vocal, it’s punk rock innit, great squealy electronics too. The Photographer says that it’s got a great beat, great fuzzy guitar, lots of squishy electronics and interesting.
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Single of the week, or of the first half of this mammoth lot of reviews is unanimously Dead Pioneers and their ode to punching nazis. Brilliant.
There you go, for extra fun you can mark each review as ‘drunk’ or ‘not drunk’ and we will try and remember which was which. Have a read, listen and argument about it. Part two to follow next week.
All words by Adrian Bloxham and Martin Ward
