This is a work of stunning aplomb; if only for the fact the band manage to cherry pick some very modish (and recognisable) eighties sounds and, through the musical hamming up that goes on, somehow turn it into a credible, individual statement.
This is a work of stunning aplomb; if only for the fact the band manage to cherry pick some very modish (and recognisable) eighties sounds and, through the musical hamming up that goes on, somehow turn it into a credible, individual statement.
Mother and the Addicts – Science Fiction Illustrated
http://www.chemikal.co.uk/ http://www.konkurrent.nl/
What a surprise. I’d been aware of this Glasgow-based eccentric and to be honest not thought very much. However this is a work of stunning aplomb; if only for the fact his band manage to cherry pick some very modish (and recognisable) eighties sounds and, through the musical hamming up that goes on, somehow turn it into a credible, individual statement. It’s also pretty funny, and Mother’s personality doesn’t half grab you by the lapels…
All In the Mind starts like Hex-era Fall only for the song to turn on a beautiful Josef K-style refrain. Overall it sounds like the Weddoes covering the Velvets, but hell, it’s actually a great opener. Following that, the immensely danceable Watch the Lines sounds like an ACR funk work out…or Happy Mondays covering Temptation, but again, who cares? It’s a toe-tapper and I’ll be sticking it on at the next office party I’m invited to. Can’t say fairer than that… So Tough is a pleasant mid tempo catcall with Marcia style Fall keyboards whereas Roll Me On Over don’t half remind me of Camper Van Beethoven, or the Bunnymen or Roxy (oh sod it, it’s a great pop song with some fabulous guitar riffing).
You get the picture.
There are quite savage, gloomy moments that stop this release from becoming just a highly enjoyable cut n paste job… Going Native is a doleful lament interspersed with some vicious guitar breaks. Personal favourites on this LP have to be the last three tracks, Attraction, Carthage and The Wild. It’s as if the band decides to stop playing musical games; preferring instead to flex a bit of their own muscle. Carthage is a great, very spiteful observation with a silly high pitched refrain… whereas The Wild mercifully limits the musical effects to create a fabulously meandering, melancholy and convincing observation.
Despite my cynical hack name-checking it’s a release worth checking out, and a lot of fun.
Words: Richard Foster