DARK CASTLE
Spirited Migration
(At a Loss)
MASSEMORD / THE FRONT / VALDUR
3-Way Split
(BlackMetal.com)
FUNEBRARUM
The
Sleep of Morbid Dreams
(Cyclone Empire)
EASPA MEASA / SILENCE
Split
(Acclaim / Sadness of Noise)
BURMESE
Monkeys Tear
Man to Shreds, Man Never Forgives Ape, Man Destroys Environment
(Enterruption)
CONSTANTS
The
Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension
(The Mylene Sheath)
AMBASSADOR GUN
When in Hell
(Pangea)
DUSTED ANGEL
7"
(Corrupt Rcordings)
MORE REVIEWS
|
|
The
two previously commercially unavailable tracks included in this
latest release by New York’s Bush Tetras are clearly
distinguishable from the rest. “Nails” and the live cut
“Motorhead” are guitar oriented hard indie; not much unlike the
good work of Throwing Muses, Romeo Void and even some of the
Pixies, it follows a marked path of quiet opening, sweet verse
and silence shattering heavy guitars. By sheer song structure,
these cuts defer from the rest, most of which are re-recorded
versions of some of their old no wave/post punk classics.
The
Bush Tetras were around back when most of us were either
toddlers or didn’t exist. They emerged in the early 80’s in New
York City and were formed by vocalist Cynthia Sley and guitarist
Pat Place; who had been a guitarist for the semi-famous No Wave
band The Contortions. The influence and learning that Sley got
from that experience certainly rubbed all over the sound of the
Bush Tetras who specialized in a peculiar sort of punk rock with
semi spoken lyrics and flat or angular guitar lines. Their
influence in the broad spectrum of rock music may be obscure;
but I hear a song like “Page 18” and I can hear much of Joey
Santiago’s (Pixies) guitar wailing or the seemingly unmoved
melodies of the great Romeo Void.
By the end
of the 80’s the Bush Tetras had put out about six recordings and
following a brief reunion in the late 90’s it would be until 2005
that they started gigging around again. Very Very Happy
then serves as a warm up recording of sorts with the band
presenting newly recorded version of old classics along with
some old recordings. Like is not the case of many albums of
this type, the re-recorded versions produced by Hector Castillo
(Brazilian Girls, Bjork) update the band’s sound and make no use
of artifices, simply resorting to the band’s original talents of
cutting guitar lines and half-spoken/half-sung lyrics.
The best
of the bunch can be found at the core; “Punch Drunk” and “Stare
You Down”. Even more enticing are the old live recordings of
true Post Punk gems like “Point That Gun” and “Das Ah Riot” with
its dub drum echoes and psychedelic guitar effects. The mere
constitution of Very Very Happy guarantees that this is
an uneven recording; their cover of Iggy Pop’s “Sister Midnight”
reminds of Concrete Blonde, but is clear document that no matter
what year this is; these New Yorkers are still willing to
challenge the listener.
MySpace
|
|
