Flying Nun crop

Press, 19 September 1985, Page 12

Flying Nun crop

music

nevin topp

SNEAKY FEELINGS “Husband House” (Flving Nun FEEL 2). TALL DWARFS “The Long And Short Of It” (Flying Nun LONG 1). VIBRASLAPS “Vibraslaps” (Flying Nun 038). DOUBLEHAPPYS “Cut It Out” (Flying Nun DHoo2).Spring is in the air, and ever-conscious of the need for some new music to throw into the walkman on those long rides down the Avon, the folk at the Christchurch record label, Flying Nun, have come through with several hot new releases. Those who thrilled to the expertly - choreographed video on “Radio With Pictures” recently, will be ecstatic to learn that the long-awaited Sneaky Feelings 12in EP, “Husband House,” is now available at all discerning record stores. Considering they have been playing for over four years, the Sneakies’ vinyl output is pretty small. However, last year’s “Send You” LP was a fine showcase for their distinctly American mix of jangly guitars and soulful vocals. “Husband House” is slower than usual for the band, but it’s another strong vehicle for the crystal-clear Matthew Bannister vocals, and could easily score with the radio stations too.

“The Strange And Conflicting Feelings Of Separation And Betrayal” is yet another classic, this time courtesy of the other vocal-

ist/guitarist, David Pine, and the EP finishes with the acoustic “Major Barbara,” another wistful Bannister melody. Apart from a rather thin production on the A-side, these three songs are pretty much definitive Sneaky Feelings, making “Husband House” an essential buy. With “The Long And Short Of It,” New Zealand’s premier garage band. The Tall Dwarfs have realised their “vague fantasy about doing a Phil Spector/cum/ George Martin big-time production, using a total of 23 musicians to remake their first record, “Nothing’s Going To Happen.” The song starts out a. la The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” and gradually builds up into a frenzied (but decidely “low-tech”) finale, before winding down into “Nothing’s Going To Stop It,” a sort of — dare I say it — Dwarf’s dub mix. Nice to hear ex Toy/Lover, Mike Dooley, drumming throughout, in spite of a sleeve photo which indicates a serious lack of haircutting. It works quite well, although the final result is, unfortunately, a lot closer to Martin than Spector. But, after much deliberation, I think I prefer the clarity of the original version. It seems a pity, given the songwriting prowess of the core band members, Chris Knox and Alec Bathgate, that a new song could not have been given this kit-chen-sink treatment. Ten short Dwarf songs (at 33‘A rpm) make up side two. The best of these are “Clover” and “Woman,” high points of previous records, and two fast/’n’/mean insights into the band’s past. “Gone To The Worms,” and “Get Outta The Garage.” The Tall Dwarfs might never be the chart force of, say, The Chills, but “The

Long And Short Of It” is * another nifty detour from standard “Ready To Roll” fare. Also from Auckland are the four-woman band, The Vibraslaps, whose self-titled five song EP is just out. This band are similar to the now defunct Freudian Slips, but, lacking the instrumental prowess of the latter, their uncompromising lyrics are hard to get into. , “Summer Lovers” is a : dreamy love song that lets the band stretch out a little, but elsewhere, deja vu rules — one for the dreaded “ “worthy but dull” pigeon hole. Also part of this orgy of Flying Nun vinyl is the second release from the Dunedin band, The Douplehappys, entitled “Cut It Out.” Recorded before the accidental death of the band y member, Wayne Elsey, “Cut ■' It Out” contains four tracks of absolute guitar mayhem -■ that make their debut single, “The Other’s Way,” sound pretty tame. , / I confess to having a low opinion of The Doublehappys, but, aided by a very -, raw production, they have w come up with a trashy, exciting disc. Shayne •* Carter’s “Nerves” is currently my pick, but Elsey’s < “Moss Monster” is a great slice of swampland boogie, -i Carter’s bitchy “Needles’? And Plastic,” shown on television recently, makes it three out of four with some neat riffs, but (in spite of j getting pride of place on ■» Graeme Downes’ hit-picks), * “Some Fantasy” sounds a j bit drab. »f

Unlike the melodic ” strength of Sneaky Feelings, ■« The Doublehappys’ real asset is a sound like no ■-* others currently playing in N.Z. — resist this if you can. .. — TONY GREEN.