Labels: Arcade Kahca
Review by: Andy Malcolm
If you want to hear where the majority of todays emo rock bands got their riffs from, then you can go listen to either a SDRE record, a Boilermaker record, or an Ordination of Aaron record. Really, so much of it is stolen – probably unwittingly, as the riffs have been handed down from band to band, like some ancient Great Aunts antique necklace, a bauble that is now losing it’s shine and falling into disrepair. That’s emo rock for ya, I think I drew a nice analogy there. Heh. So, as we drown in the sea of mediocrity, it’s nice to be able to hop back a few years and see who exactly we have to blame for the mess. Arcade Kahca records step right up with this discography to settle the score”¦ This was originally released in a slightly different form on Council Records (who have recently returned from a hiatus) but it went out of press, hence”¦
First 8 tracks on here are from OOA’s singular LP, opening up on “Immersion in a 90mph World” which rips with it’s thick, driving, ROCK guitar licks, keeping the pace whilst Rob Hicks’ distinctive wavery yet powerful vocals provide the finishing touches. Shout scream sing whisper! Hicks – he the man. Other tracks on here come from the split 7″ with Indian Summer (praise be! They *must* be great to have been on a record with the Summer), a 7″ on Bloodlink (from which their best song is culled), and a couple of comp songs.
OOA fit best with bands like Julia, and other bands who were taking mid 90’s emo in a more rock oriented direction. The guitars sheer weight and crunchiness isn’t too far removed from that of the “grunge’ scene of the early 90’s, yet OOA get intricate, are masters of the twinkle (check how “New Face” breaks down into subtle perfection), and their time changes are a little more complicated than that would suggest. Standout tracks for me are the rumbling “You too can be a motion picture star” and the indescribably great “Eli”, where OOA get down to their most complex, old school emo best. Quiet intro builds up to a pure explosion, then slips away prematurely before coming back for the finale.
I just want to know why I dropped my chair on the box the other day, rendering a huge crack in it. And also, why is there a picture of a bald man with no eyes on the cover? Lovely packaging by the way, just missing the lyrics.
Erm, classic. Either own it all on vinyl you purchased when it originally was released because you are unfeasibly cool. Or buy it now and laugh at your friend who listens to the latest drudgery from a tedious “emo sensation’. The heathen.