the SHAKE Summation

Rip It Up, Issue 74, 1 September 1983, Page 24

the SHAKE Summation

Russell Brown

Netherworld Dancing .Toys The Trusted (Ones (Flying -Nun) A jaunty little number indeed. As a song it's probably not as good as, say, ' Change to the Contrary', but the sound is much fuller than on the band's first Malcolm Black is in fine voice on Bored to Death' on the flip but the song wanders a bit. Good stuff, if not a substitute for NDT live. Marginal Era '. l, •

This Heaven (Reaction) ' '' V Paul , Agar certainly has talent as a songwriter but I'm not sure about what's been done here. This song (which began life as ,an instrumental) gets stopped dead by an awkward spoken chorus where the production ideas haven't worked. Otherwise, (it's OK. Best Thing' makes a better job of getting something of ' the band's live performance on record. 1 think Mr Agar should trust his pop instincts - , he can't fail if he does. Victor Dimisich Band EP

(Flying Nun) One of those records that seems to come out of nowhere, a

pleasant surprise. About all I know about Mr Dimisich is that he played bass in the Basket Cases after* Paul Kean left but he's turned up here with five unusual; romantic songs, notably the sad Thirteenth Floor'. When the music threatens to' get too thick it's effectively by Dimisich's quavering voice. If it sounds like some- things . Bill Direen's done that's because Alan Meek is playing keyboards. } f They Were Expendable Big Strain (Flying Nun)ffifl| ? Four songs and an instrumental and ~ what (- comes through most strongly is Jay Clarkson's personality.' Her lyrics are very good -r honest, dealing with her situation. Probably the best is Big Strain', a . song about * a relationship. Nick Strong's 'Posture' has a different feel but isn't out of place. Sometimes there's the same feeling I get with the Expendables live

that the music, isn't -quite fitting together;But in lyric and spirit this record is spot on.

Dragon, Rain (CBS) . I hope Marc Hunter's got his tongue in his cheek when he sings the opening lines: "It's a happenin' thing 'And it's happen' to you" but apart from that ' it's an average rock song with a strong chorus. The bonus is a couple of good live tracks on the flip: , Narcs

Look the Other Way (CBS) Narcs. songs have never been more than a chorus and. a riff. Their last EP had catchy, if rapidly wearying, choruses but this song's a turkey. The video clip's great so maybe you could turn the sound down and play Cabaret Voltaire when it comes on the telly. Larry Morris Band

We've Gotta Get Out of This Place (WE A)

A seamless, well -executed version of the Animals' classic without the excitement. The flip Little Darlin' ' is a similar exercise in competencelßMliMß Shane .

Don't Play That Song Again (WEA) .

An obvious schlocky shot at daytime radio. It'll probably do it. It certainly won't touch my turntable again. Eddie O'Strange

Video Dodo EP (Strange) Eh? Six not very exceptional songs (including the silly 'Video Dodo', which seems to be an injoke for TVNZ staff) done in a light-hearted manner. I just can't see the point or who it's meant to appeal to. Noel Crombie

My Voice Keeps Changing on Me (Mushroom) Another RIU writer has stated that Mr Finn's album is simply the

whim of a comfortably-off - pop star, but that record 1 has been, justified on the grounds of commercial success alone. I don't think this one will be. Crombie doesn't have the voice to get anywhere near the original or even reach the standard you'd hear at a Southland C&W festival. The flip, Ninee Neezup' is a curious little thing that's actually quite fun.