This CD may just take the award for music that you could not date if you tried. I am not talking taking it out to dinner – I mean this band are utterly timeless. I always try to listen to review CDs before reading the press release, so as not to get too many preconceptions clouding the review. I knew this was a Boss Tuneage records release, so assumed it was one of their growing collection of re-released 80s gems. It absolutely isn’t. It’s straight up 80s angular hardcore/post-hardcore straight out of Leamington Spa.
Looks like these boys are already doing alright for themselves, getting on all the old-school bills. What interests me about them is they are one of a very rare breed of old-school bands in the UK who ignore the usual Cocksparrer references and go straight for ideas pioneered by the Circle Jerks. I’m not saying that there aren’t a load of bands who hero worship Black Flag out there, but there aren’t many who genuinely sound like an original, first wave outfit.
I guess from what I’ve already said you will have gathered that we aren’t talking groundbreaking stuff here – its just so utterly anti-fashion that this here mini album seems to work on quite a few levels. It isn’t perfect – I don’t think the band have quite hit a winning formula because some of the songs are much weaker than others, but I reckon it is nice to see bands still play and think this way.
Mike