Labels: self released
Review by: Edward Ling
The left-leaning press (OK: the Guardian) made much of the idea that the change in administration at the last election would spark an upwelling of energetic and enduring “political” music of the type that made the 1980s interesting. There is some of this type of thing about, but loathe as I am to say it, the likes of the King Blues and the Skints haven’t quite set the world on fire. Thus far.
This is the debut release from a semi-punk garage band from Bedford, and there’s a large dose of wry leftfield(ish) politics in there in amongst the guitars, drums and synth. You get three songs, as it says on the tin “” all different stylistically, but each making a point. The opener “” A Salty Grave “” is a punchy little number, with a bassline straight out of the Jesus Lizard / David Wm. Sims kennel, and a carving male / female vocal interplay going on (the guy has a particularly satisfying snarl to his delivery). Track 2 “” Mentioning no names “” is a pointed diatribe on an unidentified public figure and their post-modern humour. Up tempo and heavy on the shouting, this does take itself a little seriously, but the closing lines raise a smile thanks to the genuine vitriol seething through the potty language. Not quite Bomb Disneyland, but not a million miles away. And you can’t beat a bit of vitriol.
The closer – Happy New Year “” is a bit of an oddity initially, but there’s a lot in there to love. The bontempi organ synth refrains, spikily poetic lyrics reflecting acidly on the crushing mundanity and general shitness of life rammed home at New Year, the half-pissed anger in the vocals “” all add up to a package of pleasingly sincere existential bile. Nice.