CAUSTIC RESIN
Trick Question
(Alias CD)
The record company blurb
said 'For fans of SST…' …that
was as far as I got. I needed to know no more. I
knew straightaway what they meant. It as been
some time now since I was privy to the offerings
of such combos as CD3 and St Vitus, but this
brings it all back with a vengeance. The Resin,
as they shall henceforth be known, for the most
part adopt the same policy with regard to song
tempos and guitar pedals as the aforementioned
gents. That's to say, fuzz and wah by the
bucketload (although the Resin's penchant for
slide guitar, most notably on tracks such as, er,
'Slide' sets them apart somewhat) and a
tendency towards the crawling infestation of the
ears with dark and subdued sounds that their SST
precursors favoured so notably. Of course, no
review of this record could pass without
acknowledging its debt to the Butthole Surfers,
who will surely prove to be one of the more
influential bands of the last few decades in
their twisted way. All of which isn't to say that
the Resin don't stamp their own individual mark
upon their music. They do, especially in the
latter tracks herein. Catchy, almost poppy
choruses feature on both 'Nice Wings You Got
There' and 'Eating Bugs', both of
which also feature the hitherto unforeseen
acoustic guitar. The latter also boasts what I
can only describe as a drumbeat of non-human
origin. What is going on all of a sudden? There
are those out there, I am sure, who would be all
too quick to dismiss this group as being made of
the most base and predictable stuff. That's a
gross injustice. I like Caustic Resin and I like
this CD. So there.
J.Nagle.
DISTORTION FELIX
I’m An Athlete
(Alias CD)
If I had my own radio
show, I'd probably play a track or two (in
between the Incredible String Band and Slim
Gaillard, perchance) and let it go at that. Not
really my thing, but that doesn't mean it didn't
impress me in its way. Group's moniker is
certainly no misnomer; I suspect there are some
pedals in these lads' bedrooms ('Clint, if I have
to pick your vintage Big Muff off the floor ONE
MORE TIME…') and I'm all for some of that.
Harking back, once upon a time the big noises if
you recall were My Bloody Valentine and the
Pixies, both decent combos for me (especially the
former); Distortion Felix take aspects from both
groups yet seem unwilling or unable to decide
'twixt dreamy bubblegum drone and three-minute
quiet-loud-quiet-loud quirk-pop. Tracks that
stood out; 'Green Armymen' which utilises, gosh,
acoustic guitar and has, almost a full tune
instead of just the melodic fragment they usually
opt for; a shame in my book as they've obviously
more than half an idea of how to write a song.
Also, 'Blast Off', no relation to the Birthday
Party opus but just as messy and noisy in its
way, the opening and utterly representative
'Instant Phaser', jam packed full of melodic
vocal snippets and souped-up riffs over a simple
backbeat, and the closing 'Drag' which does just
that but in a focussed, almost, well, groovy kind
of way. What else do you need to know? A trio,
guitar, bass, drums, from LA, produced (rather
well, clear, unfussy, not dissimilar to what I
imagine they sound like live) by some Albini
individual. I like it, but not that much. Not
that they give a toss, I suspect, what someone
like me thinks. Good for them.
J.Nagle.
|
