The 1980s is the decade that just won’t fucking die, isn’t it? Retro culture has been feeding off the Eighties for at least a decade now, and the trend doesn’t really look like stopping. It spawns a decent share of genius stuff and, also, some total shite. I think that everyone would have their own opinion about whether The Switchblade Masquerade fall into the former or the later of those categories.
The Switchblade Masquerade are a female front electro trio from Scotland, who mix everything from a bit of hip hop and hints of old speed garage to Evanescence. Now, Paul doesn’t usually send me this stuff. I (think I) have forged myself a role at PT as the geezer who the hardcore and the old-school punk records get sent to for review. I have been accused before, probably mostly by bitter band members from bands I didn’t give good reviews to, of having very narrow review criteria. But this EP is proof that you can very easily win me over without resorting to double speed drums and palm mutes. The thing is, interesting music transcends genre, doesn’t it?
This stuff isn’t groundbreaking, but its quite a mix up of styles and it took me a bit by surprize. The vocals (lazy comparison alert) definitely have strong hints of the girl from Paramore everyone fancies. The backing tracks all have their roots in the early 80s electro stuff, but veer off towards late 90s mainstream dance. At times there a just a few too many hints at bad chart dance samples – at one point I thought some Cher style vocodered vocals were about to kick in, but when they go a bit dark, this lot are pretty damn entertaining. Well worth investigating – I reckon they will be like Marmite, in synthesizer form.
Mike