I know little about Perverted (By Desire) apart from the fact that they are from Limburg in the south of Holland. I can also tell you (after a quick read of the sleeve notes) that they have been going for twenty five years. As regards reviewing Vote Reverend Greed – their ninth LP – I can tell you that I’ve been extremely lax – as this record came out in the autumn of last year. (The main – and slightly ridiculous – reason why it’s hung around the bottom of my “to review” pile is that it’s in a bloody annoying box that you can’t help but ruin in trying to open it). Still, my diffidence and truculence has melted away, as repeated listening has shown the LP to be a real cracker, replete with strong and accessible songs, great vocals and a tremendous show of character.
There’s a growling energy that infuses the whole LP: (the last track, Brilliant Idea, is possibly the weakest, where an ungainly tune is harnessed to sloppy, skanky beat but outside of that you can’t complain). Guitars screech and growl, the drumming is flexible and enervating, and the vocal delivery is passionate, direct and clear. This record is also balanced on an emotional tripwire: sometimes tracks that seemed calm and meditative snarl up out of nowhere as on Night on Earth and Second Chance. The opener, The Buzz of the Silent Show, highlights this confrontational and feisty vibe; it’s a classic opening track in that it has got the right amount of sass and tension to lure the listener in. And when the singer squeals angrily “Stop staring at my nipples man/and don’t flatter yourself it’s chilly in here” you begin to realise that this is an LP from an alternative band that is not looing hide away what it thinks, a rarity in this age of vague, diffused and incoherent mumblings. There are a fair number of uncomplicated, straightforward songs about love and yearning for an easy life: (Tenderness and Jindabyne are notable examples) though on first listen you’ll probably miss it in the hurricane of guitars and vox).
In many ways it’s a pretty old fashioned release: as I’ve stated before, the songs are pretty accessible, and backed up with a passionate vocal delivery and a clear story lines. So, not anything really new, but enjoyable nonetheless.