We tried to do this last week but something happened. I think we got drunk on Thursday watching The Bevis Frond so didn’t make it out on the Friday. Anyway, here we are and we’ve even taken off the embargo for special guests for Daisy who joined us for around half of the music. As always, have a listen, collect your thoughts and tell us exactly what we got wrong.
Rhododendron – Like Spitting Out Copper
This has nasty dense hardcore guitars and stuttering drums, a great sound until the vocals that it really doesn’t need. The Photographer says it’s a chaotic start bit which is alright then a mad Slint sort of thing which makes no sense then goes back to chaotic and screaming, I don’t get how they think those bits work together, because they don’t.
Hubris. – Is
A wibbling ambient electronic intro then gentle beats, reminds me of the sea, then big guitars it’s got a shoegaze groove, I like this, it’s holding my attention. The Photographer says that it ambles slowly and fairly uninterestingly along for three and a half minutes and then meh. Far too pleasant softie electronic nonsense – just dull.
Screensaver – Division
This is very post punk and it’s a decent song, nothing new but it’s done well. The Photographer says that it’s all a bit eighties gothy and never gets going – I waited but nada.
Birth defects – Deceiver
Noisy nasty Big Black sounding stuff, a decent track. The Photographer says it’s a filthy bass heavy medium roller with strained vocals that are interesting. It breaks down and then waiting for it to kick into overdrive and it doesn’t.
Josh Da Costa – Proving Me Right
This is all eighties basslines and synths, bright and sparkly, decent enough and the great big dramatic chorus makes the song. The Photographer says it sounds like A Flock of Seagulls meets Wire – No.
100 Demons – Haxan Hammer
Rough edged heavy heavy metal, nice gruff vocal and sword and sorcery lyrics, great stuff, then faster and heavier a great song. The Photographer says I know what this is going to be like immediately and it is.. shouty double beat metal, takes too long to get going and suspiciously like Metallica vocals, I’m bored after three minutes
Slift – The Day Of Execution
Would you believe that this is prog hardcore, mind boggling and ace, heavy and long. The Photographer says that it’s energetic strained vocals over thin metal guitar solo and I really don’t like it. It’s pretentious wank. Daisy has joined us now and says that it’s the day they executed rock.
Robert Hood – Minus
A slice of nice bleepy repetitive techno. The Photographer says that it starts bleepy and carries on the same. There are better examples of Robert Hood, this has very little interest and is way too long. Daisy says I prefer being on hold to Ryanair.
Eel Men – When I Get Rich
An agitated indie pop post punk groove. The Photographer says it builds up nicely with a steady rhythm and interesting sounds littered throughout. The uptempo break later helps keep interest. I like it. Daisy, who appears to be enjoying this one says I’ve put the second headphone in.
The Hobknobs – Easier Listening
Straightforward indie, it’s alright, they’re bound to be supporting Heavenly at some point. The Photographer says that we are swamped with these wet indie pop tracks, they all follow the same formula… next! Daisy says that it’s nice on the ears in a nursery kind of way.
Captain Mantell – Miracle Mojo
This is perfectly formed Adult Rock and not for me, Kula Shaker anyone? The Photographer says that its soft rock pop, far too polished with no substance. Daisy says that it sounds like the dramatic intro to rented DVD ads in the old days.
KMFDM – You
A great EBM disco groove to stomp around and throw glitter to. The Photographer says it’s KMFDM you know what it’s going to do and it does.. bounces along, but it’s a bit dull and soulless. Daisy says that it’s proper K Pop Demonhunters!
BLKE – So Do I
This track has a great heavy slowness, massive guitars and drums driven on by the bass and a kind of whispered growl for vocal, it would maybe be better instrumental but it’s still good. The Photographer says it’s bleak and driving guitars with sinister background vocals, goes on a bit but does pick up slightly at the end. Daisy says I’d probably kiss a girl in the crowd while listening to this.
Tomorrow Woman – Ultrasound
This one is slow dark disco, a great groovy track. The Photographer says that it’s experimental electronics with a nice beat but that can’t save it from lack of substance, even the last quarter can’t save it.
Dead Pioneers – Never Alone
An ace belonging song, find your family in your friends. The Photographer says I love this band. I think they’re great, it’s not their strongest and it’s a bit deeper and not as much political rage.
Primitive Broadcast Service – Wolf Mask
It starts with a nasty, low loose fuzzed out bass then moves into a spiked up infectious groove with slabs of guitar and a brilliant, anguished vocal. It just keeps moving around. The Photographer says it’s got a bass muffled start then its all a bit muffled free form chaos over the beat vocal trapped behind the drums and then everything else struggling as it doesn’t seem to hook me. Daisy says I’ve heard that song with a whiney voice so many times…
Hannah Peel, Beibei Wang – Offerings To The Beast
This has a dramatic little intro, and then a quirky groove which is okay. The Photographer says it’s all bright electronics with interesting noises. It builds nicely and keeps you interested as it beeps and dives around.
Deafkids – Reflexo
I love Deafkids, this is bonkers noise brilliance, it’s breaking me and it’s wonderful. The Photographer says it starts with a disturbing beat and distorto vocals and then builds in craziness adding layers of noise and vocal disturbance, restarts halfway and builds to a crushing end. It is the single of the month.
Massive Attack – Tom Waits – Boots on the Ground
This music is untouchable, menacing and ticking like a bomb, Tom sounds old and weary but so he should, he’s both, this is excellent. The Photographer says Tom Waites is ace, it’s a slow burner all the way to the end with subtle sub bass throughout and gets slightly lost towards the middle end until Tom saves it.
Swampmeat Family Band – Hush Your Mouth
A folk rock diss song, pretty damn good. The Photographer says its got bright guitars and Bob Dylan type action, it’s a bit staid and dull.
Futumche – Vigilante Death Squad
Hard core weird from Futumche, short sharp shock, ace stuff. The Photographer says it’s one minute of madness and its ace, very nearly single of the month
Party Dozen – Special Unit
Female led noisy punk rock, great song, ace brass section, the Photographer says that it’s fuzzed out vocals and crazy sax driven rock… interesting.
Oliver Roseman – Vector
A great techno track, I like the high hat and bleep over the beats, ace. The Photographer says its techno its got a spiky repetitive glitch all the way through with a rolling thunderous beat with enough variation all the way through
Schkeuditzer Kreuz – Keep Dancing
This one starts with the sound of battle and progresses into a bonkers paced industrial mad dance fest, low gravely vocals ace! The Photographer says it’s in your face relentless electronics which starts fast and gets quicker and more insane as it goes on. Daisy, who has joined us again says its like screamo techno.
Tara Clerkin Trio – Lazy Daisy
Laid back folk indie, the photographer will hate it, it’s just quite nice. The Photographer says its alright didnt mind it, niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice. Daisy says, it’s indie. I’m offended they’ve used my name.
Sweeping Promises – Shooting Shadows
A Female fronted punk band, off centre and discordant, I like it. The Photographer says it’s been recorded in toilet punky shouter, it just about makes it to 2.45, only just though.
Adrian Sherwood, African Head Charge & Speakers Corner Quartet – Topanga
A smooth jazz start then dub kicks in cycling underneath, great track. The Photographer says it takes far too long to get going, come on… and then it really doesn’t, it just wobbles along in an aimless jazzy jizz fashion until I turn it off at 3.40.
Two Tonne Machette – Lead With My Bad Side
A great song, Punk, full of attitude and done well. The Photographer says thats a bit more like it. Grinding guitars and oh, vocal lets it down its quite interesting in places in others its wet and average doesnt know what it wants to be.
Meryl Street Steve Ignorant – Rotten Fruit
Brilliant song, Meryl, samples and Steve Ignorant, brilliant rant over brilliant music. However the Photographer says it’s furious shouty vocals over a bit of punk .The samples seem to be a bit thrown in with the whole thing and it’s a bit disjointed and aimless.
Inigo Kennedy – Front Left
A big track with big techno noises, muffled and fuzzy, static around the edges on and on and on. The Photographer says its a dark techno roller with some classic drums and hi hats thrown in dark and slowish, it shakes the building as it kicks in and out the lp\ep it’s from has more of this stuff.
Perennial – What’s New On The Beat Scene
A fuzzy sixties punk throw back track done really really well, its got an infectious groove. The Photographer says it is a shouty noisy organ laden freak out. Short and to the point… great.
The Kittens – Have A Heart
A Lo fi female punk song, it verges into indie pop and is pretty decent. The Photographer says its more downbeat indie but wait, half way through it goes all feedback and interesting until it gets bored and goes back to dull.
So there it is, another evening at the pub and a bagful of music. Single of the month is Deafkids, very closely followed by Massive Attack and Futumche. Have a read and a listen and let us know what you disagree on and what you like.
Words and opinions by Adrian Bloxham, Martin Ward and Daisy
Beer by The Twisted Barrell Brewery and Taphouse
