Shake Summation

Rip It Up, Issue 118, 1 May 1987, Page 20

Shake Summation

Dance Exponents ‘Brand New Doll’ (Zulu 7”) Based on a seminal grungy riff (‘Wild Thing, ‘Addicted to Love'...) the aggression and hardnosed vocal make this the best thing the .

Exponents have done in ages. The attitude gives it an edge without getting your back up. Excellent hard rock production with plenty of effects done well. B-side ‘One Sad River’ is a slow ballad recorded live in the studio, sad and affecting, but it slows down as if they lose interest. Al Hunter

‘Highway Song’ (CBS 7”) From Neon Cowboy comes virtually a double-A sided single that gives Al two well-deserved shots at airplay, on rock and country radio. ‘Highway Song’ cruises along with steady beat and lived-in voice, plus lovely instrumental touches from producer Stuart Pearce, particularly his acoustic piano — and a cameo backing vocal from Dave Dobbyn. Swings out, “listening to the wheels,” full of warmth and taste. ‘Country Music' is an upbeat, pure celebration of the form, driven by brilliant fiddle and pedal steel. Great piano break, a strong melody and spirited vocal. Superb. Low Profile ‘Simon Says’ :

(Flamewave/Jayrem 12”) ‘The Cutting Edge’ made more accessible, with haunting, delicate vocal, and a great brass section and backing vocals. Still Zappaesque, with an odd halting rhythm. The “slightly bent but equally enjoyable” extended mix of ‘Simon’ highlights the intricacies of the “sensible radio playlist” version, with guitar licks, cymbals and French horns brought forward. ‘Elephunkin’ is a new version of the everlasting quirky favourite of student radio. The endearing misanthrope has achieved. classic status. Low Profile are craftsmen who have a refreshing, challenging approach to writing pop that ignores and bends established strictures; the whole package is another classy effort. Dread Beat & Blood

‘No More War’ (Jayrem 12”) There's a striking spare opening to ‘No More War; it's got excellent voices and a lovely feel, but the melody doesn't really flow. The repeated chord at the end was a bad idea. On the B-side are the gems — ‘One People’ has strong harmonies, a lyrical bass and scratch rhythm guitar, a strong reggae single that would work well live. “Tragedy’ is another haunting scratch number by David Grace, who has a captivating voice. Great smooth sound. :

When the Cat’s Away ‘Leader of the Pack’ (CBS 7") Although Kim Willoughby's perfect girl group voice and the strong BVs make this worthwhile, it's disappointing that the Cats chose this song over their other

Chris Bourke

material, much of it NZ written. Labelle’s ‘Lady Marmalade’ shows how the Cats can cope with demanding material; shame the band (horns excluded) isn't really up to it when captured live at the Gluepot with a particularly thin mix. But it's made for Annie Crummer, and there’s lotsa the Cats' inimitable energy. Tim Finn ‘You Saved the World’ (WEA 7) From the film Les Patterson Saves the World, but it's more of a whimper than a bang. A limp start, with that familiar detached voice, but it comes alive at the chorus; shame the rest sounds like a Johnny Farnham vehicle. Pleasant light production, but let's hope he's saved his best material for the next album. B-side ‘Les Fanfare/‘Coup d'Etat’ is a John Williams/Raiders pastiche instrumental. Otis Mace and the Psychic Pet Healers (Ode 127) Two sides of the Pet Healers are revealed on this raw recording, both showing the pop potential of Mace's simple songs. First is a hokey country persona, with ‘Don't Shoot Down’ being a country cautionary tale, rather cautiously played. ‘Long Time to Come’ has great lyrics (“You can water your hydrangeas / On the grave of our arrangements / But it's only disappointments gonna grow”) but is let down by Otis's voice and the sparse backing. The darker ‘Horror Show Blues' heralds the Grim Reaper to a shoobedoowop fanfare. ‘Effort, Money & Time' is a good pop song, much assisted by Gavin Buxton’s sax. ‘The Land of the Living Liver’ introduces primordial slime rock, and confirms the breadth of Mace’s quirky talent.

Rutherford-Brookes (Ode 12”) Singer-songwriter fare, with Stephen Brookes taking lead vocals throughout this four-track EP which has an all-star cast of backing musicians. ‘Only One Life' is polished folk, with fiddle by Wayne Goodwin; ‘Holy Moses’ a delicate ballad with full string section and a Walter Bianco sax solo. With a looser, raw, sound ‘Steinlager ° Blues’ would kick ass like Delaney and Bonnie, but it falls down on tried and true “hot licks” and Brookes’ merely competent voice. ! ‘Letter to Francois' is a gentle ballad, rather like early Elton John, - . with a nuclear free message to France and Annie Crummer peek- . ing through on BVs. RutherfordBrookes’ PR said they were country; they’re no Gram and Emmylou.