OCTOBER ALL OVER
Anna C with some seasonal reviews

 

OCTOBER ALL OVER- 2005 BC

Phew. And a little bit of hotheaded panting. This band should have their own cheerleading squad. Recorded on a planet where girls have balls, just a few miles from London, here we have another four-piece championed by dear ole Johnny Peel (I wonder how he would have fared with a pair of pom-poms and some high kick action?), but one whose obvious energy and sheer hunger for the limelight ensure they steal it every time with tunes like this. Either you're in or you're out; OAO make it clear that they don't have time for hangers-on and it is important that you bear this in mind, because these are three tracks that don't make sense to the average ear. Imagine the unapologetic noise of early Nirvana and any DIY/ riot grrl band you care to think of, with the passion and perspiration of Jetplane Landing or Pretty Girls Make Graves, and that might give you a taste for the dirty, chugging and slightly scary but slightly thrilling ride awaiting the unsuspecting listener. Except this is one rollercoaster that won't make you throw up. Well, maybe only a little bit.

This was released on 10th October 2005 through Integrity Records, which was only Monday just gone so go forth and rock.

www.octoberallover.co.uk

FORMER CELL MATES: Hustle

This is a band that has made it their aim to put some soul into rock and roll and some spunk into cow punk. Whatever that is. Perhaps I'm missing out on something. Or perhaps not. Claiming to be original yet familiar, an interesting mix, I'm sure you'll agree, and one I would like to hear an explanation on how it can exist, this Geordie trio have often been compared to Thin Lizzy and Motorhead. Except I don't know who by. In short, this is relatively samey rock and roll by today's carbon copies of those who have lived it, including ex-members of Leatherface and The Golden Virgins, with tracks such as the unlikely titled "Inhaler" mostly epitomizing the big-breasted blonde bimbo-ness that sums up everything I tend to avoid in music. And, although I'll give it to them that they give it some welly in the pogo-licious "Sonic Stamp", I was really only convinced to keep the CD due to the sweet testament to how well these guys can actually play that is "Sparkle". Apart from that, I still wouldn't like to be locked in for the night with this lot howling to the moon in the next room. But you might.

This album was released on 5th September 2005 so that means you can rush out and buy it right away!

www.formercellmates.com

RachelAPP: Burstin' EP

I'm sure this debut EP was fun to make. And I would love nothing more than to write a bit about its highlights. Sadly, there were none. In fact, the most excitement I got from it was when I at first mistook it for a "Teach-Yourself-Swahili" CD I recently won on Ebay. This is because I have no idea what RachelAPP is on about. Prior to listening, I even tried drinking several generous helpings of Sambuca, including inhalation of fumes through paper towel when set alight, in hope that this would help in translation. It did not. It merely led to further questions: "was Miss APP 'burstin'' for the sanctuary of a toilet when recording, hence restricting the power of speech?" An example of just one.


So it was just as well that the lyrics were kindly included in the sleeve. I was then able to grasp the apparent dilemma that the "DIY Queen" has in deciding between stories and cryptic images. Might I suggest neither? I enjoyed reading them much more than I did them aurally assaulting me. Because unusual is an understatement. Now, I'm no musical philistine but am I the only one not to understand why this one-woman band, performing minimalist post-punk on guitar, vocal and drum machine, cites influences as diverse as Joan Baez, Madonna and PJ Harvey? If I were them, I would sue. Because this is quite frankly rubbish.

www.rachelapp.co.uk

Anna C.

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