From Scratch count down

Press, 19 December 1985, Page 12

From Scratch count down

FROM SCRATCH “Pacific 3,2,1, Zero (Part I—/ Drum/Sing” (Flying Nun 041). MARIE AND THE ATOM “Spit It Out” (Flying Nun MATAOO2). THE REMARKABLES “Waiting For A Wave” (Meltdown 002).

From Scratch, the internationally renowned Auckland percussion trio, have released an LP to follow up their recent tour, which included a Christchurch concert that won the group many fans.

The record is an ambitious project, more akin to classical or jazz than rock, with each side having just one song. This is not boring Emerson, Loke and Palmer style “progressive” music, however — using racks of PVC piping, roto-toms, and other exotic items, From Scratch are genuinely exciting.

Side one, titled “Pacific 3,2,1, Zero (Part One),” is a complex piece that slowly takes shape as an effective

anti-nuke message. Vocals are used, sparingly, as part of the drone or rhythm, rather than actual singing, and even though it clocks in at 23 minutes the tension remains high throughout. The second side is titled “Drum/Sing,” and was produced together with the Auckland filmmaker, Gregor Richards (and seen on “Kaleidescope” a few weeks back).

An explanation of this long, twisted piece appears on the inner sleeve, which further illustrates the group’s technical prowess. Again, it never degenerates into pretentiousness, although side one seems the more successful of the two to this uncultured ear. From Scratch have come up with an interesting and committed record, proving beyond doubt there is life beyond the three minute pop song. Approached with an open mind, this makes rewarding listening.

Also out on Flying Nun is the new Marie and The Atom EP, “Spit It Out,” six tracks of rather uneasy listening from the Auckland duo.

Uneasy, but unsatisfying — Marie and The Atom are graduates of the Nico school of whining vocals, and, coupled with music that largely ignores rhythm in favour of textures of sound, the EP is sometimes heavy going. Torch” is probably the best example of this claustrophic music — “The block lit Up/The blokes light up,” and “Miss America” is the other song that works. Elsewhere “Tall” and “Aria To Marie” plod along listlessly, under a heavy weight of synthesiser, viola, and assorted tapes.

Gill Civil and Sarah Westwood have obviously put a lot of themselves into “Spit It Out,” but its dark music is really quite dull — refer instead, to their interesting

first EP. “Waiting For A Wave” is the debut EP from The Remarkables, a Palmerston North band, who make up the second release from the new independent label, Meltdown Records. This band sounds like good middle/NZ stock, playing a colourful pop-rock with some great keyboard touches from Alan Gregg. But the words indicate a rather obvious lack of depth. For instance, a song called “My Boss” that features the startling chorus line, “I work for him,” repeated again and again, is hardly Elvis Costello. The other four songs have the same drawbacks. It’s pretty plain music, just saved from the doldrums by the obvious enjoyment the band have for playing — expect to see The Remarkables at next year’s orientation week. -TONY GREEN.