Labels: Fone Records
Review by: Andy Malcolm
I am not exactly sure where I was at the precise moment that I found at that there was a new ex-Party of Helicopters band. That band being Ultrasphinx. Party of Helicopters everyone! One of the best things I ever went to see was PoH playing in Nottingham, many years ago. It was one of those rare gigs that exceed all expectations, a total experience that I will never forget. Anyway, that’s enough romanticising the past, that was a very long time ago and I should be talking about Ultrasphinx. Except you can’t really do that without referencing PoH, since there are some definite links between the two, most obviously in the airy, unobtrusive vocals that swirl through both tracks to great effect. The music is hefty, yet entirely melodic and smartly crafted. “Left Objects” in particular gets into some masterful grooves to nod along to. If you are partial to Party of Helicopters and Hum, then these two songs are going to excite you in enormous measures. I am hoping that there is an LP on the way to expand on these sounds further.
This is one of those splits where the bands paired up are quite diverse, which is no bad thing. Bad Trouble are ramshackle and snotty garage punk in the familiar obnoxious fashion. Lots of snarling and simple riffs, it’s pretty decent. I’ve not really listened to much stuff in this vein for a little bit, and it’s not totally up my street these days but I appreciate the bluntness and energy contained herein.