Fuck, what am I doing listening to Racebannon straight after Aerial M? I’m trying to review the damn thing, that’s what. Racebannon are equal parts Swing Kids, Rye Coalition and Racebannon (yes, a hint of quaint originality on this record, for real!) and this album will baffle your sensitive mind. First time I played it through I felt like I had never heard anything so scary in my entire life. But once you get use to the warped hardcore-noise event these guys have going on, you’ll settle down and slot yourself neatly into a chair and nod a long thoughtfully.
Perhaps what makes this record stand out from the normal spastic hardcore is the mind-fucking samples that are liberally sprinkled between tracks. Personal favourite is the English fellow who labels punk rock as “nauseating, disgusting, degrading, ghastly, sleazy, voyeueristic.” Of course, the vocals help too, flitting from “I am insane, you are a cucumber!” talky style to “FUCK! FUCK! MY FACE IS ON FIRE!” screams, and they certainly beef up the lunatic sound that the ‘bannon perpetrate across 12 inches of red plastic. Perhaps the most disturbing track is the final piece of work on side A, where the sped up vocals sit subliminally behind the unpredictable music and wander in and out without warning. Suddenly the track bursts into life and the singer yelps at you. ARGH! GET HIM AWAY FROM ME!
Musically this is pretty inexplicable. The drummer tears holes in his kit whilst the guitar-work will keep your mind frazzled and working over-time to figure out exactly what they are doing. They tend to hit hard and fast, but aren’t without the slower moment where they rely on tricking you into a false sense of security. They are certainly easily over-excited and not averse to going totally over the top in their attempts to confuse and bemuse you into submission. And it works, mark my words.
No two words described this record better than: FUCKED and UP. Essential scary shit purchase of the millennium. You can’t listen to this everyday, but fuck it, freak it. This record is ill and so are you. AAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!