Triffids devotion

Press, 21 May 1987, Page 18

Triffids devotion

THE TRIFFIDS “In The Pines” (White Hot L 38718). THE HOUSEMARTINS “Caravan Of Love” (Go! Discs X 14467). During 1986 The Triffids spent a week with an eight-track tape machine in a shearing shed 600 km south-east of Perth, Western Australia. “In the Pines” is the result of this holiday — it’s not intended as the follow-up to their last album, the excellent “Born Sandy Devotional” but it certainly keeps up to the standards pf that album.

“In the Pines” is a bizarre collection of songs and tunes — they range from the country-singa-long of “Once A Day” to the menacing “Kathy Knows.” There are even some odd little waltzes among the 13 tracks. The dominant style though is a sort of twisted country music, taking ideas and influences from a variety of sources and slapping them around until they do what is wanted — take, for example, “Love and Affection” where strange things happen to the Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane.”

The way this album was recorded means the sound is not up to the polished production one is so used to now. Which is fortunate — the nature of this music demands the rough, sparse sound which results.

The vocals seem to benefit the best from this.

David McComb has a strong, deep voice, enhanced by this hollow sound — reminiscent of the early recordings of Elvis Presley and his contemporaries.

What this album most brings to mind however is Dylan and the band’s “Basement Tapes,” both musically and in terms of how and why they were made. Personal favourites amongst the songs are “In the Pines,” “Kathy Knows,” and “One Soul Less On Your Fiery List.” These songs also demonstrate the scope of the material on “In the Pines.” The title track is a yearning, folky waltz, whilst “Kathy Knows” crawls aggressively out of the speakers, as discordant and noisy as these songs get; and “One Soul Less ...” heralds the revival of “doo-wop” vocal groups. But each track has its own unique charm, and it may be because they are all so modest. Nothing within the songs fights for your attention and one enjoys them more for it.

The Housemartins had always appeared to be a standard boring English band who had received some media attention due to their politically-sound beliefs, but did not seem to have much potential. On hearing their new single though I have definitely changed my mind about this group. There is a world of difference be-

tween this and their previous releases. “Caravan of Love” is a five-track EP featuring gospel acappella — songs with no instrumentation, simply vocal harmonising. The songs were all chosen because of their gospel or spiritual message and because they contain a social message fitting with The Housemartins’ political beliefs. The title track, a cover of the Isleys “Caravan of Love” is the strongest song on the EP, and demonstrates the strength and clarity of the band’s voices.

The remaining songs are melodic, well-sung and a refreshing change from the previous Housemartins’ material. “Caravan of Love” is an enjoyable way to hear what can be done with just four voices. —PAUL COLLETT