CAMBRIDGE EVENING NEWS 17.07.03


THE VIRGIN SUICIDES - PLOUGH OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD EP (R*E*P*E*A*T RECORDS).

THE NAME OF THE RECORD IS, SAY THE BAND, A REFERENCE TO THEIR SHAMELESS NICKING OF TRICKS FROM THEIR OLD SCHOOL PUNK HEREOS. TRUE, MUCH OF THE IMAGERY AROUND THE BAND, THE RECORD COVER AND THE RHETORIC, BORROWS FROM THE NIHILISM OF THE 70s. TRUE, JUST AS DEAD NOW IS A GLORIOUSLY HALF FOCUSSED EXPLOSION OF ANGER AND CATWALK CANCER KICKS OFF WITH A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED PUNK ROCK RIFF. BUT THE BEST TRACKS HERE, LITTLE MANNEQUIN AND BEYOND 13 BETRAY A MUCH MORE RECENT ALLEGIANCE TO, WHISPER IT, THE MANIC STREET PREACHERS. THE PLAINTIVE/STRIDENT VOCALS, THE SHOEHORNING OF IDEAS INTO HARD STRUMMED GUITAR LINES TOO SHORT TO HOLD THEM - IT ALL POINTS TO THE WELSH ONES. NO BAD THING. BEYOND 13 IN PARTICULAR IS EXCELLENT, SPINE TINGLING, HOPELESS-YOUTH-STARING-INTO-THE-BEAUTIFUL-ABYSS STUFF. POTENTIAL BUBBLES HERE LIKE A SAUCEPAN SET TO SIMMER.

JOHN CLARE

The PLOUGH OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD EP is available from R*E*P*E*A*T, PO Box 438, Cambridge, CB4 1FX for £3 inclusive, cheques to R. Rose please.