Post by OTD on Jun 8, 2005 14:51:37 GMT
Thought I'd better copy the review here before the page is updated:
From Pickwick's Pop Page
So there it was, a giant phallus, proudly emblazoned on the side of Old Mills Batch, it¹s gargantuous girth gashing through our otherwise idyllic countryside. Those towering testicles lasted through all winds and weather over the past few weeks, and I dare say thanks to the strength and durability of Dulux Weathershield. The mystic influence of the Batch on local townsfolk remains undeterred. Like some latter-day Pompeii, we seem to dwell unwittingly beneath this sleeping monster, about to erupt at any time, unleashing it's fiery anger to engulf us all, destroying everything in it's path (but hey, that's enough about Michael Howard). Since the arrival of this giant genetalia, the unsuspecting motorist making their way along the B3355 on their weekly trawl to Planet Tesco, has no doubt been resigned to total bewilderment! After all, Westbury's ancient hillside figure created in 878AD, is beleived to commemorate the battle of Ethandun in which King Alfred fought off Viking invaders. The historical significance of Midsomer Norton's recently unearthed fertility symbol is however, somewhat less clear.
Now, speaking of molten rock spewing frenziedly from a mouth of fury, May 28th saw the long-awaited return of Left Side Brain, perhaps the most talked about band at The Wunderbar in recent years. Now, in a justified world, these guys would already be enjoying the spoils of world domination, snippets of their riff-laden wall of noise would already be etched into a brass plate on the Voyager satellite, proudly representing the great acheivements of humankind as it hurtles its way over the cosmos. I like to think such justice will be done.
So, what is it about Left Side Brain that makes them so awe-inspiringly amenable to so many? Maybe it's the fact that they aren't trying to be part of any particular scene or current short-lived trend. Left Side Brain have name-checked bands such as Therapy and The Wildhearts on their inspiration list. Their own music however, champions a whole new breed of British Rock.
Many bands grow to master the riff-driven power-chord formula quite readily, but Left Side Brain deliver an extra sting to their punch - delicately woven melodies and triple-barrelled vocal harmonies, skimming nimbly over their overdriven riffs-to-die-for. Like the mighty King Kong, capable of crushing his fragile woman with the slightest wisp of his giant finger, the Brainer's delicately balance precision-tight, multi- layered harmonies over the toughest granite foundations - equals and opposites indeed. Furthermore, the band¹s lyrical content is hardly the territory of the well-thumbed rock rulebook. Instead, Gareth and Rich take it in turns to sing about the anxieties of everyday life, our fears, our weaknesses, our inner-turmoils, pouring out their hearts to us in a way that every single one of us can identify with.
Initially formed in Swansea, the band soon moved to Bristol where they earnt the highest respect in the good old fashioned way - solid, hard work. They've already played some of the darkest corners of the country, recorded their debut album in Northern Ireland and released it to undisputed critical acclaim aswell as becoming regulars on the playlists of Kerrang and Scuzz
TV.
Tonight's set, opening with "Silo Mentality", charged through much of the highly revered "Equals and Opposites" album, the high point for me being the ball-busting "Low Tide", arguably the grittiest guitar riff not to have been crafted on Jimmy Page's Gold Top Les Paul. With the band due to start recording their second album in October, tonight we were treated to the first slice of their new material. Given the working title "Exit Wound", this hi-velocity screamer delivered more octane than a John Woo action thriller, the band steering heavily towards a less-commercial, no-compromise approach.
Despite a few technical difficulties on the night, "String-breaker" Gareth going through guitars quicker than a Steven Gerrard score sheet, and the chance of any encores being scuppered by a broken bass-drum pedal, the Left-Side Faithful were nonetheless truly fulfilled having once again lifted their goblets of rock within the sweat-soaked walls of The Wunderbar. Let¹s hope world domination is indeed, just round the corner for Bristol's most invigorating band.
Now, In a month that sees the arrival of new offerings by major-players Oasis and Coldplay, I must admit to being as excited about these impending releases as anyone living South of the border enjoys Scottish football! No doubt these corporate giants will earn a good living just on the impulsive 'bung-in-the-basket' whims of the weekly Planet Tesco shopping run. Personally though, I'd rather say a big 'THANKYOU' to those very nice people at Matador Records who have just re-issued the elusive singles back-catalogue by those lesser known players Yo La Tengo.
Imagine if Teenage Fanclub had recorded 'Slanted and Enchanted'. This would be somewhere close to describing the sound of Lo Ya Tengo. Taking
simplistic, often two-chord arrangements, delivered with the warm-fuzzy drone often associated with early My Bloody Valentine, together with the playful shambolism of Pavement, the New Jersey based trio were among the early innovators of the 'lo-fi' pop genre. Listening to these songs now, some of which were committed to tape as early as 1985, it's easy to see where the new generation of 'twee' indie bands such as British Sea Power draw their influence. Lo Ya Tengo's neatly packaged, well-documented triple CD set entitled "Prisoners Of Love" comes at a fair price to boot! I dare say Tesco won't be stocking this little treasure, but maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.
Well, next time I'll be reporting on perhaps the most hotly anticipated local release of the year - the long awaited first album by reclusive sonic-stoners Blueneck. Now in the mastering stages, "Scars Of The Midwest" is due for release on Don't Touch Records next month. In the meantime, I can't help wondering what has happened to that phallic artefact on Old Mill¹s Batch? Maybe it's been carefully dismantled by some keen-eyed entrepreneur, shipped up to London for reconstruction at the Tate Modern and nominated for the next Turner Prize. Personally, I think it's in with a chance! I only hope the Left Side Brain guys stuck to good advice not to attend any of Jer Hunt's notorious after-gig parties! They'd soon have discovered that a giant painted penis isn't the only erotic etching to be unearthed in Midsomer Norton.
From Pickwick's Pop Page
So there it was, a giant phallus, proudly emblazoned on the side of Old Mills Batch, it¹s gargantuous girth gashing through our otherwise idyllic countryside. Those towering testicles lasted through all winds and weather over the past few weeks, and I dare say thanks to the strength and durability of Dulux Weathershield. The mystic influence of the Batch on local townsfolk remains undeterred. Like some latter-day Pompeii, we seem to dwell unwittingly beneath this sleeping monster, about to erupt at any time, unleashing it's fiery anger to engulf us all, destroying everything in it's path (but hey, that's enough about Michael Howard). Since the arrival of this giant genetalia, the unsuspecting motorist making their way along the B3355 on their weekly trawl to Planet Tesco, has no doubt been resigned to total bewilderment! After all, Westbury's ancient hillside figure created in 878AD, is beleived to commemorate the battle of Ethandun in which King Alfred fought off Viking invaders. The historical significance of Midsomer Norton's recently unearthed fertility symbol is however, somewhat less clear.
Now, speaking of molten rock spewing frenziedly from a mouth of fury, May 28th saw the long-awaited return of Left Side Brain, perhaps the most talked about band at The Wunderbar in recent years. Now, in a justified world, these guys would already be enjoying the spoils of world domination, snippets of their riff-laden wall of noise would already be etched into a brass plate on the Voyager satellite, proudly representing the great acheivements of humankind as it hurtles its way over the cosmos. I like to think such justice will be done.
So, what is it about Left Side Brain that makes them so awe-inspiringly amenable to so many? Maybe it's the fact that they aren't trying to be part of any particular scene or current short-lived trend. Left Side Brain have name-checked bands such as Therapy and The Wildhearts on their inspiration list. Their own music however, champions a whole new breed of British Rock.
Many bands grow to master the riff-driven power-chord formula quite readily, but Left Side Brain deliver an extra sting to their punch - delicately woven melodies and triple-barrelled vocal harmonies, skimming nimbly over their overdriven riffs-to-die-for. Like the mighty King Kong, capable of crushing his fragile woman with the slightest wisp of his giant finger, the Brainer's delicately balance precision-tight, multi- layered harmonies over the toughest granite foundations - equals and opposites indeed. Furthermore, the band¹s lyrical content is hardly the territory of the well-thumbed rock rulebook. Instead, Gareth and Rich take it in turns to sing about the anxieties of everyday life, our fears, our weaknesses, our inner-turmoils, pouring out their hearts to us in a way that every single one of us can identify with.
Initially formed in Swansea, the band soon moved to Bristol where they earnt the highest respect in the good old fashioned way - solid, hard work. They've already played some of the darkest corners of the country, recorded their debut album in Northern Ireland and released it to undisputed critical acclaim aswell as becoming regulars on the playlists of Kerrang and Scuzz
TV.
Tonight's set, opening with "Silo Mentality", charged through much of the highly revered "Equals and Opposites" album, the high point for me being the ball-busting "Low Tide", arguably the grittiest guitar riff not to have been crafted on Jimmy Page's Gold Top Les Paul. With the band due to start recording their second album in October, tonight we were treated to the first slice of their new material. Given the working title "Exit Wound", this hi-velocity screamer delivered more octane than a John Woo action thriller, the band steering heavily towards a less-commercial, no-compromise approach.
Despite a few technical difficulties on the night, "String-breaker" Gareth going through guitars quicker than a Steven Gerrard score sheet, and the chance of any encores being scuppered by a broken bass-drum pedal, the Left-Side Faithful were nonetheless truly fulfilled having once again lifted their goblets of rock within the sweat-soaked walls of The Wunderbar. Let¹s hope world domination is indeed, just round the corner for Bristol's most invigorating band.
Now, In a month that sees the arrival of new offerings by major-players Oasis and Coldplay, I must admit to being as excited about these impending releases as anyone living South of the border enjoys Scottish football! No doubt these corporate giants will earn a good living just on the impulsive 'bung-in-the-basket' whims of the weekly Planet Tesco shopping run. Personally though, I'd rather say a big 'THANKYOU' to those very nice people at Matador Records who have just re-issued the elusive singles back-catalogue by those lesser known players Yo La Tengo.
Imagine if Teenage Fanclub had recorded 'Slanted and Enchanted'. This would be somewhere close to describing the sound of Lo Ya Tengo. Taking
simplistic, often two-chord arrangements, delivered with the warm-fuzzy drone often associated with early My Bloody Valentine, together with the playful shambolism of Pavement, the New Jersey based trio were among the early innovators of the 'lo-fi' pop genre. Listening to these songs now, some of which were committed to tape as early as 1985, it's easy to see where the new generation of 'twee' indie bands such as British Sea Power draw their influence. Lo Ya Tengo's neatly packaged, well-documented triple CD set entitled "Prisoners Of Love" comes at a fair price to boot! I dare say Tesco won't be stocking this little treasure, but maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.
Well, next time I'll be reporting on perhaps the most hotly anticipated local release of the year - the long awaited first album by reclusive sonic-stoners Blueneck. Now in the mastering stages, "Scars Of The Midwest" is due for release on Don't Touch Records next month. In the meantime, I can't help wondering what has happened to that phallic artefact on Old Mill¹s Batch? Maybe it's been carefully dismantled by some keen-eyed entrepreneur, shipped up to London for reconstruction at the Tate Modern and nominated for the next Turner Prize. Personally, I think it's in with a chance! I only hope the Left Side Brain guys stuck to good advice not to attend any of Jer Hunt's notorious after-gig parties! They'd soon have discovered that a giant painted penis isn't the only erotic etching to be unearthed in Midsomer Norton.