It’s an oddity

Press, 4 August 1983, Page 16

It’s an oddity

THE GREAT UNWASHED “Clean Ont Of Our Minds” (Flying Nun) Note the “dirty” band name, and the pun in the album title. David and Hamish Kilgour, the brotherly backbone of The Clean, are trying to make you forget about that band. The music is certainly miles away. Far from being rich after their previous vinyl experiences, the duo had a hand from their mother for the financing of this record. If the family is behind you, you must be doing something right. The 13 songs were all recorded on Hamish Kilgour’s four-track. That machine is an inspiration he took from Chris Knox, who is about to unleash the third Tall Dwarfs record from his home-recording machine. “Clean Out Of Our Minds” was mixed at Progressive Studios in Auckland, like most of the Builders’ album. If the pair wanted to get right away from the sound of The Clean, they have succeeded. This is closest to the Knox and Alec Bathgate than anything else. The pair have gone off the rails that The Clean

stayed on (concise, rhythmic sounds) and have experimented with all manner of effects, but using basic instruments, like guitars and drums. “Clean Out Of Our Minds” is therefore very mixed, and so far only four of the songs have stood out to me.

Two, I’m ashamed to write, are “old ones” (say no more) revisited. “Hold Onto The Rails” surprisingly manages to retain the high it offered when it was presented in a more “rock ’n’ roll” format, while Hamish’s streetwise meanness of “Quickstep” has also transferred well. Although it is positively overloaded with effects. “Small Girl” is David on his own, and the best new one on the album. Folk music, almost. “It’s A Day” has lyrics which verge on the silly, but the rhythm is boosted by what is credited as “Cardboard box — Hamish.” The rest don’t thrill, although I doubt if they were meant to. Clean is out of their minds. Unless the remainder grow on me, this will remain an oddity. DAVID SWIFT