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!!!
'Myth Takes' 8/10
!!! have apparently employed some strange techniques in
rehearsals for their new album including early morning kung fu and yoga to
help them focus. Whilst this immediately seems most bizarre in comparison to
the usual rock'n'roll regimes(often involving pint- sized weights and
horizontal tango lessons) it caused some consternation amongst the people of
Nashville, Tenessee, where said readying was taking place. "I think the
neighbours thought we were a cult or something," says singer Nic Offer, "one
time the postman walked into the yard when we were all out in our little short
shorts doing chants and contorted into these weird sweaty positions." Despite
their humourous cover- ups and protestations I fear the good people of
Nashville maybe onto something. Let's look at the facts. First of all, there's
that name- what does it mean? There's the obvious symbolism there with the
three exclamations(lest we for get a three is a number often used in religious
texts) and it's pronounciation, most often "chk chk chk"(though it can be any
sound repeated thrice- "pow pow pow" for example), is pretty darn close to
doing your own little bit of chanting. And let's not forget the music(no,
let's not - ed.), a cosmic- psychadelic swirl of mesmerising loops played in
repitition at one of their notorious "happenings." All sounds very suspect to
me.
Thus far seeing !!! at one of these "happenings" has always seemed the best
way to experience their particular brand of dance- punk psychadelia. Whilst I
remain a big fan of their debut album "Louden Up Now" it serves primarily as a
souvenir of their(near- unrivalled) live sets and despite some memorable
moments("Is This Thing On?" and "Me And Giuliani..." foremost amongst them) it
seemed to be lacking in focus. Often songs would start with much promise but
lose their path somewhere along the way, carrying with them the listeners
attention. While their length is not a criticism in itself often songs did not
have the strength of identity to carry them through twelve or thirteen
sometimes trying minutes. This is not an accusation one can level at their
sophomore effort. !!! have a new found focus here, with clever hooks and
driving basslines to back up their points. Their intention is clear from the
opening beats of the title track "Myth Takes", with it's drum'n'bass tempo and
lilting surf rock guitars setting an urgent yet unsettling scene to kick off
proceedings. From there the album careers through all manner of strange
wonders, such as the Spaghetti western calypso march of "All My Heroes are
Weirdos", in leading up to the album's highlight the single "Heart Of Hearts",
a behemoth of spidery guitars and bass synth stabs that will doubtless be a
dancefloor staple throughout 2007. Elsewhere, the pan- American colective find
time to get in touch with their spiritual forebearers the Chilli Peppers on
the contemplative "Sweet Life" and give in to some old self- indulgencies on
"Bend Over Beethoven," a twelve minute wig- out that unfortunately loses the
plot that is so expertly adhered to for most of the time. Nevertheless, the
point of !!! has never been to nitpick, but to freak out and dance and there
could never be a better soundtrack to that end than this album. They have
succeeded in making a record that will move your feet and grip your head, but
it is the latter that is the sign of their increasing maturity. The groove is
strong with this one- don't miss out.
ALEX SHERIDAN
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GOOSE
'Bring It On' 8/10
"Ah, Goose. That's an interesting name, so let's have a look at this press
release then shall we?. Indie- Neu Rave-Electropop you say? Well, I certainly
need some more of that in my life. Oh, no excuse me, that's precisely what I
DON'T need any more of - my bad. Goose, from Belgium, tick all the boxes needed
for the current hype love- in. The bloggers love 'em, not many people know of
them, they swapped their guitars for synths and the cover for their LP is
oddly reminiscent of Peter Saville's iconic artwork for New Order's Blue
Monday..."
It was somewhere around this point when writing the above paragraph about a
week ago that I almost fell prey to that old critical pitfall; judging a book
by its cover. Though it is hard to admit since then Goose have managed spread
themselves over my conscience like a rich electro pate, thick with livery
goodness. Their sound isn't exactly original but it gets to the point, adding
a much needed energy and menace to the in vogue edit- y mess of the Institubes
and Ed Banger set by keeping their sound close to the darkened warehouse echo
of their Lowland forefathers(Joey beltram, R&S Records, etc.), the result of
which is a kind of hotwired Hot Chip on crack. Make no mistake, these guys
have synths and they're not afraid to use 'em. Just check out the ridiculously
enormous fog horn on "British Mode," which is frankly one of the loudest
things I have ever heard on record. The same can also be said of their
breakneck drums. As they point out in the aforementioned track they "try to
hit it hard" and they certainly don't disappoint on that score.
No, I must hold my hands up and say that beyond all expectation and flying in
the face of my own musical prejudices this is a fine album indeed. Rarely in
recent times has something grabbed me so firmly by the balls and, refusing to
loosen its grip one iota, flung me from pilar to post whilst in avid search
for the most contrete- solid rave anthem known to man or beast. From the jump-
up brock- out bounce of opener "Black Gloves" it is soon patently clear that
this will be no playground ride, a suspicion that is quickly confirmed by the
onslaught of title track "Bring It On, " a schizoid bass workout with yet more
brain melting synth action. After that things get a little sissy and
forgettable with "Slow Down," but fear not redemption comes apace in the form
of trash metal speedway that is "Check" followed swiftly by "Modern Vision,"
at 04:39 the longest track here and in my opinion condender for the best too.
If there is another track in contention for highlight status it is most
probably "Low Mode" which sees these daft Belgians doing what they do best;
"Please boost the amplifier/ I wanna get much louder!" pretty much says it
all- and that's before the guitars even kick in. If there's a better
soundtrack to a balls to the wall night of debauichery anywhere this year I'll
eat my day- glo trucker cap. This is the real riot in Belgium.
ALEX SHERIDAN
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