On Tape

Rip It Up, Issue 89, 1 December 1984, Page 46

On Tape

Neil Cartwright

A Handful Of Dust A Fortnight Dead (154 Forth St, Dunedin, $3.50) Crystal Zoom and Gamaunche Live At the Ego Club (27a Montgomery Ave, $4.50) A Handful Of Dust is Bruce Russell, who seems to be the long-lost missing link between Sam Hunt and Fetus Productions. Guitar, tapes and a good line in speedpoet lyrics are , the essentials, : which, when they gel, are worth several listens. I'd really like to see him live (that rhymes with “jive”, thank you). Crystal Zoom have already blitzed a few braincells with the deliriously packaged Uptown Sheep and here show their more "serious” side. Any band with a classy intro like the one on this tape (lotsa crowdnoise, a demented announcement of the band and an almost word perfect recitation of the Take No Prisoners prologue, followed by a few bars of 'Sweet Jane") has gotta be ahead on points before they even start. Two covers (Gary Glitter’s ‘Rock ’n’ Roll’ and Jonathan Richman’s ‘Pablo Picasso’) plus seven originals of varying quality make up a pretty satisfying side. They say they’re gay and anyone who sounds so much like Tom Robinson has every right to be. Gamaunche have more music, less humour and appear to have a guitar hero lurking there somewhere; inventive creature it is too, but let’s bear in mind that the Idles are a “Dunedin Band” too. No, no, they dont sound like the Idles, sorry. God, I’m gonna get shot for this ... by someone... hmmm... A good cassette with above average recording quality and they promise a lavish Christmas package too. Keep an eye out for a suspicious looking Christmas stocking. CK Loving Homes for Rotting Gnomes Sepulchral (159 Frankley Rd, RD, New Plymouth) A very new band (whose name even had the imperturbable Topp Twins a little nonplussed on RWF) with three songs. I dont much like the long one. ‘Prayer for That Good Night: but only because it reminds me of some of the dipshit "progressive" bands of the very late 60s, which isn’t really the Gnomes' fault. The other side works much better and once the obvious influences are assimilated and/or ditched they're going to be really interesting. Could’ve sworn there was a woman’s voice in there, too, but I’m wrong, just some guy whose vocals sound very interesting. Don't stop. CK Dada Club Ennuiennuiennui ... (From God knows where ...) I knew what this would be like and I was right. Repetitive, background loopmusic. I like it, but / like Metal Machine Music Chris Knox Legless Brownies Brain Food? (Acneman, $5) Well, bloody hell, another “punk" band. Sheesh. Hold on! What’s this?"... put an end to male domination, why should only women pay?” Strike me! They’re Saying Something! Admittedly, some of the songs are very cliched ('Novelty’, 'Safety Pin) but there’s definitely something here. P’raps the Brownies have set themselves too limiting a framework. There’s an average version of 'Armalite Rifle’ and a reasonable

‘Sweet Jane'. Standout originals are ‘Carnal Knowledge’ and 'The Brain’ It’s not a bad recording either. From 116 Rugby St, Christchurch. Me, I’ll be waiting for future recordings. Fiona Rae . ; . Peter Haeder, Gao . ($8.50 from Box 44-096, Auckland or Real Groovy) Peter Haeder is a German-born. guitarist' now - living in' New Zealand. This tape was recorded with his four-piece band A (two'/ drummers, trumpet, /flugelhorn and bass) in a studio in,Kassel, West Germany and contains seven numbers with a jazz-rock feel. The band is tight and the sound very polished, if a little cluttered at times. My main criticism (a small one) is that the tracks could have been a little longer, particularly 'Wind Spirit’, and ideas could have . been a little further developed. Nevertheless there is is no doubting Haeder’s ability. There’s some excellent bass work and a nice use of Eno-esque backdrops. Standout tracks are - ‘Swinging Elephants’ and 'Watch Out I (Rhinos Fight Back)’. It won’t appeal to • everyone but if you’re a jazz-rock fan, Gao is worth checking out. Personally, I’d like to hear this man do some solo work. Mark Di Somma Various Eject It (Rites, $5) Self Abuse Teenage (Rites, $5) Chumbawumba/Passion Killers (Rites, $5) (All Rites Tapes available from PO Box 8809, Auckland.) So here we have Rites’ Christmas package buy them for the Duran Duran fan in your family. Thirteen bands feature on Eject It from big names like Flux Of Pink Indians and Political Asylum to lesser-knowns Kulturkampf and Stress. All British, some represent new hope for the decaying UK punk scene worthwhile. Self Abuse have two tracks on Eject It and a cassette of their own, made up of demos and live recordings, put together by the band when their record label (laughably called Radical Change) refused to let Rites release a cassette version of S.A.’s EP here. The best thing with this band is the clear lead guitarwork throughout their music, which, coupled with some good catchy mid-tempo songs gives them a clean, original sound. While punk flourishes internationally, the scene in Britain seems drab and lifeless, split into pointless divisions, bands lacking spirit and originality. But some don’t fall into this trap. Chumbawumba (along with the Redskins) are about the best thing going in the UK at the moment. A collection of about eight individuals, Chumba incorporate theatrics into their music in an attempt to get their message across. It would take too long to go into it fully, but just let me say that that anyone who considers themselves a “thinking . punk" should check out this band, one of the best anywhere. Their compatriots Passion Killers use acoustic guitars for an appealing sound miles away from the dead zone. An inspiring release. Touch Sensitive, Moving Technicolour • ($7 from Tom Woods, 2 Hopetown St, Auckland 1) Boiled Owls, Drive In Vegetables ($7 from 528 Hay St, Oriental Bay, Wellington) Using a portastudio, micro synth, doc rhythm, analogue delay and other bits and pieces. Touch'Sensitive have managed to produce a cassette full of electronics instrumentals, some 20 of them in fact. Very much mood music, as that it works quite well for fans of electronic music. Boiled owls have , more bite, great cover. Again using a variety of instruments and objects, but with an overall nastier electronic sound and vocals too. ‘Brian’ is great. Far from commercial (a good sign), this duo (a couple of Skeptics in disguise) are perhaps a little indulgent at times but still worth checking out.