“The excellently titles Wraithscapes doesn’t half sound like a severely out of tune Happy Mondays played through a knackered Dansette. Have the band been on drugs? Still I like it, it’s funny.”
“The excellently titles Wraithscapes doesn’t half sound like a severely out of tune Happy Mondays played through a knackered Dansette. Have the band been on drugs? Still I like it, it’s funny.”
Clipd Beaks – Hoarse Lords
Fantastically obscure artwork clothes this raging monster of a record; I get a perverse kick out of not being able to read sleeve notes. After all were they ever meant to be read? No matter, the opening track, Meltr begins with an almighty blaring sound (Professor Welch style) before settling down to a yell-fest that stops and starts at will. Somehow the instruments keep things recognisably together as a song. It’s a slobbering, sloppy beast but loveable nonetheless. The excellently titles Wraithscapes doesn’t half sound like a severely out of tune Happy Mondays played through a knackered Dansette. This is trash rock at its most slobby. Even with the attempt at an atmospheric break mid-song. Have the band been on drugs? Still I like it, it’s funny.
Elsewhere, Manipulator stumbles around stoned immaculate, a rant loosely held together by a fat bass line wailing and a sampled T-Rex roar. High on Charms is a gloriously annoying psychedelic mantra whilst the title track sums proceedings up with its thumping drums and grumbling Steve Hanley-style bass. In some ways, the band has created something of worth out of this slacker chaos and tuneless racket. And now and again there’s a gem of a song in amongst all the fuzz. We Will Bomb You, Woo Melodies and Black Glass being a particularly resplendent trio, the first mentioned is a drone fest supreme, almost treading Royal Trux territory.
It isn’t easy, but it’ll grow on you if you’re in the mood.
Words: Richard Foster