'Dos' - WOODEN SHJIPS
This lot are from San Francisco and until now they've passed completely under our radar, which obviously now requires a widened scope. Whilst the space, trance or drone rock tags are not unfamiliar, Wooden Shjips strength of individuality is delivery and while comparisons have reined from Suicide to The Velvet Underground and The Doors, theirs is a sound that is compelling, and all of their own; if given the chance 'Dos' will kick down the doors of convention. This mini-album appears to have no plan of action; they basically take fuzzed up guitar, a marauding bass and a near silent vocal, and just knock out a jam. The five tracks on offer here come in at just under 40 minutes, so you get a sense for the level of engagement and longevity; opener 'Motorbike' and the superbly funky 'For So Long' the shortest cuts at just under 5 minutes each. It's guitar, bass, drum - but halucenogenic, cathartic, flamboyant and played with such conviction, it's frivolously dangerous. Well worth more than your time.
Last week it was...
'0.522' - NEDS ATOMIC DUSTBIN
For those of you who remember this floppy quiffed, tie-dye wearing crew from the West Midlands will recall indie's finest exponents of quirky and tense sub-hardcore that actually helped to define a generation. Early soundbites still worth digging out are the original 'Bite' EP and the superb 'God Fodder' but with this box of b-sides and remixes, 'The Neds' presented something, initially for no more than £5.22p, that was unique - a collection of b-sides well worth listening to. Twenty one tracks of 'proper Indie' and a sense of immense fun, it's a perfect summation of a group who began the whole suburban reality movement that acts such as The Streets purvey so successfully today. Set against distorted guitar and two uniquely throbbing bass lines, each and every track is killer, some given the alternative remix treatment; they'll have you dancing around the room like a loon from The Goons in no time.
The Curveball Archive:
'Unsolved' - KARATE
'Abandoned Language' - DALEK
'Mercy' - PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS