Labels: Rugger Bugger
Review by: Andy Malcolm
Normally a split 7″ is used to promote two label-sharing bands, two similar bands, two nicely contrasting bands, or two touring bands. As far as I know, none of these apply to these two bands. Though I’m probably wrong.
The bands operate on very different planes, but not enough to contrast. Starting with Japan’s Lovemen (courtesy of Snuffy Smiles), and I’m asking: “do you guys own Promise Ring records?”. Which is odd, as I was in the mind that they were more a long the prototypical Smiles label bands that I’d heard, like Blew. Their song “…This Life” gets going with a bouncy bassline that could have been purloined from “30 Degrees Everywhere”, and the song continues in the vein of a PRing track, as it picks up for a rousingly played chorus. Luckily, this is a really great song, and a cool listen, so I’ll forgive them for the similarities with that other band and assume that it’s just a coincidence.
As for the ‘Tone, well. Their own record label describes them as “it sounds like the Clash meets the Clash”. So who am I to argue. Not that I would be the best person to ask, although my meagre knowledge would suggest that’s a fair description. Pretty damn cool though! Even if their singer did tell Ian (who was perusing some wares on a merchandise table) at the Southampton Discount gig that they were playing support at, “It’s a fiver to just touch the sleeve of our record”, before looking at him more closely and adding “And seven quid for students”. First up is “Busy Being Bored” which sounds like old punk with groovy skanky guitars. Catchy. They follow it up with “Bloody” which is more of the same, but perhaps more amusing. Definitely a band with a sense of humour.
Two good bands with nothing in common. You could do far worse, although I still don’t get why they’ve been married up here.