New Zealand

Rip It Up, Issue 213, 1 May 1995, Page 34

New Zealand

CUNT 7 Inch Single (Yellow Bike)

Steel stuff covered in acetone — what were you expecting? CUNT are the Palmerston North duo of Claire Pannell (Froit Head) and Dave White (Lung). Their debut single is one of the murkiest, shittiest, most unintelligible, nonsensical, distorted collection of bangs and clatters I’ve heard for years, and is highly recommended. Send your cash to Yellow Bike, PO Box 586, Palmerston North.

STRAWPEOPLE Sweet Disorder CD Single (Sony)

Pleasant enough sultry grooves on ‘Sweet Disorder’, from Masters Tierney and Casserly, while Leeza Corban’s melody heavy, silky vocal rides over the catchy mid-tempo dance beat. Also features Broadcast's ‘Wings Of Desire’, and a jagged throwaway piece called ‘ReSurface’.

TEREMOANA Beautiful People CD Single (BMG)

It’s taken far too long for former UHP member Teremoana to get her debut single in the shops, but the waiting has its rewards, for ‘Beautiful People’ is a classic soul single. A straightforward 4/4 dance beat provides the backbone for her astonishingly natural voice. Unforced, but powerful, the vocal carries the rolling, flowing melody, and when the note is

held on the word ‘great’, it’s breathtaking. The single features five versions, including the booming ‘DLT Deez Mix’.

SECOND CHILD Crumble CD Single (Wildside)

‘Crumble’ is a long way from the torqued out Second Child of old, but is pretty awesome nonetheless. Slow burning, intelligent power pop that comes with a knockout punch when the gigantic swinging hook hits during the chorus. Following on is the high-tension grind of ‘Rattle My Cage’, and the strung-out drama of ‘Carving Out’.

NIXONS Basement Static Cassingle (Pagan)

Very Radiohead-like acoustic pop from the Nixons first up on ‘Basement Static’, complete with a desperately desperate chorus that’s impossible to ignore. ‘Dirt Seller’ goes ballistic from the word go, and a lengthy, atmospheric, suspense ridden jam called ‘Higher’ takes third place.

SONIC ARTS SOCIETY Sonic Noise CD (Burnins Records)

The impatient people at the Sonic Arts Society in Wellington have released a 13 track CD, of which, the majority of stuff should’ve been left in bedrooms and practice spaces. The bad stuff ranges from the utterly self-indul-

gent noise-wank of Dress, to the pure screeching crap of Phil Death. Good stuff comes courtesy of the mutant, muddy punk/pop of Foisemaster, and the migraine inducing guitar technique-cum-breakdance beats of the Skitzoid Men. Otherwise, ‘buyer beware’ is the best summation. Available for $6 from SAS, Box 11072, Wellington.

LICHEN POLE Spleen Cassette EP

The noisy ideas happening on this four song cassette from Wellington band Lichen Pole are bred on the right track, but more concern is given to tricky structures and quick chord changes, rather than any discernible melody. ‘Yin Swallowing Yang’ is almost Drill-like in places, and is the most appealing direction they could follow. Available from 6A Chelsea Street, Miramar, Wellington, or fax (04) 3857177.

BAD ACID Cassette EP

This bunch tried to bribe me with lollipops, so you know where they’re at. There’s trad, heavy 4/4 rock riffs all over this, and they have great song titles like ‘Waltz of the Damned’ and ‘Ticket to Death’. Ultimately, they’re having fun, and that’s the whole point. Write to 47/3 Cambridge Terrace, Christchurch, and if you’re lucky, they might send you a copy.

BANSHEE REEL Lament Cassingle (Loaded)

Lame folk-pop accompanied by nauseatingly pretentious lyrics and a singer so bad it’s almost funny.

OKRA Keith Richards' Trip To Invercargill Cassette (Dervish)

Great cover of an anorexic-looking Reith Richards clutching a beer poolside, presumably in Invercargill. Inside, ‘Moslem Man’ is punknoise for bollocks sake, while the strum strum title track is the closest they'll ever come to a bona fide pop song. Side two’s ‘Steel Beast’ is art-fart spoken word stuff over a one chord riff, while the brilliant ‘Business Is Good In Hell’ tells of two dropkicks on a plane (noise provided by vacuum cleaner) discussing airline food and heroin trafficking. Write to PO Box 3189, Shortland Street, Auckland.

JOHN RUSSELL