AERIAL RAILWAY

Rip It Up, Issue 67, 1 February 1983, Page 8

AERIAL RAILWAY

Not Really Anything are not a quiet band. They build with sound and use it in a manner at times reminiscent of the great sonic radicals, the Gordons. The Gordons' Brent McLaughlan is one of the two drummers, which insures that same pushing rhythm base. Guitarist Rex Visible is the centrepiece of the band, in a very Velvets' way. Frank Stentjees plays the kind of bass he did with the Androidss and Coloured Pencils. , ~ ■ J U 1 RB They Were Expendable When you have three people who are very good at what they do, it's a big head start in a band. Nick Strong has long been the most interesting bassist in the Christchurch rock scene, Dave Toland the best drummer and Jay Clarkson is, well, Jay. One of this band's problems has been hauling it all together, but when they do, (and that's been happening more and more) it is truly good. Jay cuts a dark figure on stage, Patti Smith comparisons are obvious, but she's her own woman. Watch out for the mini-album. RB Biggest and most enthusiastic crowd on Sunday turned out for Limbs dance troupe. Later in the evening Naked Spots Dance had all sorts of problems getting a decent sound out front and only really got things working for their last two or three numbers by which time a fair portion of the crowd had wandered off. Gorilla Biscuits put in a pretty useful set. A surprisingly modest crowd turned up for John Martyn's small stage show but those who came went away more than happy. Towards the end of the proceedings The Skinny Brothers knocked out a characteristically quirky bracket and the Top Scientists reunion drew a big and appreciative crowd as the hordes headed back towards the camping grounds after Split Enz had finished on the main stage., DM