Three upcoming singles from Slovenly Records, as well as one (PUFF!) on their new imprint, Mondo Mongo. These all came into my inbox at the same time, so they’re all getting reviewed simultaneously. Each review was limited to a certain amount of space, and I kept to that, in the interest of brevity.
The Anomalys – “Deadline Blues” b/w “No More!”
Ignore the a-side, which is pretty rote, even though there’s a nice reverb on the guitar tone. The vocals are so high up in the mix as to irritate, especially given the tone-deaf delivery. The crazed drumming and insistent background vocals on “No More!” make it the far more interesting track on here. It’s frantic and the surf bridge makes it completely danceable. You can freak the fuck out on that one.
PUFF! – Identitätsverlust
Behind all the weird synth work, guitar insanity, and otherwise is a steady, motorik / mechanical beat. This German group might operate like Devo on speed, but there’s a solid foundation behind all three songs that keep them from collapsing into complete messes. “Routine” is the least outre of all the tracks, yet manages to use its simplicity to provide a severe and claustrophobic discomfort.
Thee MVPs – “Oh Sally” b/w “Amok Time”
Jangly, shaggy garage at its most simple might not be breaking any new ground, but Thee MVPs know how to rope you in and keep your attention. “Oh Sally” is bright and sunny, “Amok Time” is a little darker and intense, and any song that uses Kirk battling Spock as an analogy for troubles in a relationship is aces with me. The wails and guitar workout in the last minute make this one a real winner. I also like the fact that these folks don’t fade out — both songs end with these great little codas.
Useless Eaters – Desperate Living
Synth-y, Spits-y garage. It’s dirty, like the contacts on Useless Eaters’ electronics haven’t been cleaned in a while, giving everything a patina of filth. I love the fact that the combined running time of both songs on the flipside is less than that of the title cut. “Desperate Living” takes its time and stretches out, but “Dungeon” and “I ThinK She Wants to Find Out positively revel in their brevity. “I Think…” even throws in a solo at the end, as if to say, “Oh, we’ve plenty of time.”
You can preview a track from each of these releases at the Slovenly Bandcamp page.