SHAKE SUMMATION

Rip It Up, Issue 120, 1 July 1987, Page 31

SHAKE SUMMATION

This Boy Rob ‘Crazy Notions’ (Pagan 12”) An unusual, reflective five-track EP that should be the subliminal student radio hit of 1987; the commercials don't have the patience or the taste. John Fraser and Greg

Johnson are really doing something different. These songs are haunting and captivating, with a lot more depth that “ambient” would suggest. Johnson has a melancholic voice reminiscent of Scritti Politti, supported by simple backing: sad flugelhorn, cool sax, gentle bass and discreet drum machine. Life ticks away for the ‘Shirt and Tie Man, spend ‘Hours of Waste' daydreaming to delicate guitar and organ wash, with jazzy ‘horn and organ swinging against the flow. Excellent clear sympathetic production by Mark Tierney and Paul Casserly at BFM's studio. Another stimulating release from Pagan: the Devil does have the best music. _ Aotearoa ‘Revolution’ (Jayrem 7”) A gospel ballad with a gentle, imploring vocal made for commercial radio (good luck!) and edited down to 2'35” especially, though | could have taken another verse. Good sax and slick production from Dennis Mason. ‘Whakarongo' is spirited and uplifting, leaping out with the energy and determination of a haka. Fighting talk, heavy on the vocals with a funk bass. Knightshade ‘The Physical You’ (Reaction 12”) : Any fears that Knightshade are the poppier end of NZ heavy rock are unfounded: they can sound

like the inside of a jet engine. ‘The Physical You’ and ‘Losin’ Your Love’ have celestial choral vocals and flashy guitar solos, which aren't saying much though. | prefer the more upbeat ‘Leaving’ and ‘Caroline, with the pace and menace cranked up several notches. Out of the Count had better songs, but good grunt from Mandrill, and clever cartoons of Wayne, Alan, Gavin, John & Rik too! Flesh D-Vice ‘Transmission’ (FDV 77) Led by a coiling lead and woolly bass, with a muffled vocal, this has an edge and power not on the video. The chorus gets things going, but it's all over very quickly. ‘Strange TV, recorded live at the Terminus on Halloween night 1985, takes the intensity to worrying levels. Mind-numbing, celldestroying bass, there’'s a good rock and roll guitarist there struggling to get out. Can’t quite get the TV connection, unless it's waking up to a snowy screen and white noise with a metho's hangover. Stay off the petrol guys!

Chris Bourke