Singles Apocalypse:
HoZac F-ing Special.

Apologies for the lapse in posting – just got back from my holidays a few days ago. Unreviewed singles have become a mountain. Why do I keep buying them? Because they’re there. Here’s a few to get us started…


Fey Gods – United b/w Bury Me Standing (HoZac)

The first of a whole trio of new Hozac releases I’ve picked up by bands starting with ‘f’, this one is my least favourite, and also has the worst cover design of any of the discs in my ‘new arrivals’ heap. Which is not to say it’s not at least quite good, mind you, assuming severely distressed gothic synth-punk is your thing.

If it isn’t, prepare to look on in growing horror as a farting, distortion pedalled low end keyboard and cymballess drumkit churn out a lumbering, maddenly repetitive riff that sounds like either a) a drunken Martin Rev sountracking a military funeral, or b) a twelve year old nihilist having a temper tantrum (choose your own record review adventure). Over this, we meet a man whose unhappy outbursts position him somewhere between a stroppy goth-rock vocalist of yore and Rocket From The Tombs-era David Thomas. Bracing!

CORRECTION: I’ll let that review stand, but will make clear that I’ve just realised I was playing the record at the wrong speed. At god’s own 45, things have much the same sense of gloom, only now the vocalist is female, and it kinda sounds a bit like 45 Grave, and kinda kicks ass. Mascara!

Disappointingly, the b-side here mainly consists of a guitarist picking over some minor chords Mogwai left behind, whilst an uncertain male vocalist tries to squeeze some goth-grandeur out of incessantly repeating the word “inside”. I don’t think I’ll play it again.

http://www.myspace.com/feygods

The Flips – I Just Don’t Know Where I Stand EP (HoZac)

Well I probably don’t need to tell you I love this by default. Six girls making delightful, Cave Weddings-esque rock n’ roll jangle-pop, in the tradition of The Bobby Fuller Four, Buddy Holly, The She Trinity, Pleasure Seekers etc? Let’s face facts, they could be illiterate Nazis and I’d still give this the thumbs up. It’s as sweet as whiskery kisses from Jesus himself.

“1 and 1 is 3” on the b-side is by far the best tune here – in fact it’s a total killer. It would definitely get an airing were I DJing anywhere any time soon. The other two numbers are good as well though.

The Flips are big on handclaps and tambourine, so it’s just as well I am too. I don’t really know why they have six people in the line-up; there’s no organ and only one singer, so whichever way you cut it that’s at least one too many. Maybe some of them are just in it for the handclaps? Sweet! Their publicity shots suggest a serious dedication to the “Girls In The Garage” aesthetic. If you like this sort of thing, chances are you’re on board already, and if you don’t, your loss.

My copy is on translucent orange vinyl! A winning disc. Sadly, my unsuccessful search for a myspace page reveals that The Flips have already broken up. DRAGSVILLE. What is it with bands that sound this happy? Does the weight of the world just crush them or something? I dunno. Get this while ya can anyway.

http://hozacrecords.com/2010/08/the-flips/

Fungi Girls – Turquoise Hotel b/w Doldrums (HoZac)

Fungi Girls are not girls. Ha, not seen that one done much recently. Fungi Girls are instead a bunch of smart kids who I guess figured they had what it takes to grab a slice of the lo-fi garage-pop action whilst there’s still some going around. Good decision, as it turns out - they’re bloody great at it.

Nothing ‘new’ here for you thrillseekers, but for those of us who remain happy with a good bit of well-executed rock music, let it be known that guitar/bass/drums dynamics are lively and inventive and well… rocking… throughout, the recording is JUST distant and reverbed enough to put me in mind of an early REM or Feelies album, and the vocalist’s droll, sleepy monotone is extremely pleasing. “Doldrums” in particular is terrific, rattling along like the best song The Clean never got around to recording in their ‘80s heyday.

This is nice music, high on fun, low on ego; the kind of thing that happens when quiet, good natured boys who are secretly the coolest kids in school get together and quietly form the coolest band in town. Louder and less able young music-makers from Cleburne, Texas must hate these guys’ debonair guts.

http://www.myspace.com/fungigirls


Did I mention that I really like HoZac records at the moment?
http://hozacrecords.com/

Labels: Fey Gods, Fungi Girls, singles reviews, The Flips