INCHAINED MELANCHOIY

Rip It Up, Issue 166, 1 May 1991, Page 4

INCHAINED MELANCHOIY

The thing is, these Chainsaws aren’t masochists. Murray Couling confesses that he doesn’t even like the movie lexas Chainsaw Massacre and wonders why all these unscary Flving Nun bands have such unsavoury names —

Headless Chickens, Straitjacket Fits, Dribbling Darts of Love — vech! No wonder his workmates in South Auckland were surprised when they heard how accessible "Thrashing Around’ sounded on radio.

Thats the debut single from - Chainsaw Masochist's debut album, Periphery, which could be described as quietly uneasy listening. Reflective lyrics and guitar tunes created with only alittle bit of reverb and a small Marshall stack (the entire stash of band gear is stacked unobtrusively in a corner of Murray’s bedroom). No effects to speak of.

“We're more interested in what the two guitars do opposed to each other,” says chief songwriter and guitarist Murray. The other members of the band being Debbie Silvey

(guitar, vocals), and brothers Darren and Ricky McShane on bass and drums respectively. 5

Chainsaw Masochist formed three years ago. Six months ago they recorded six songs but were turned down for an Arts Council Grant.

They were all set o release an independent LP when Flying Nun came knocking and fronted up with $2,000 towards the $7,000 - production costs. Understandably, the band were “quite over the top” about the signing, and regard it as a privilege. Although there’s nothing cliched about their songs, which are lovely, Chainsaw Masochist could be

considered a quintessential Flying Nun band. Murray is ;

unapologetically uninterested in rap (“the whole rap scene’s alien to me. | don’t go out clubbing. | don't really like dancing. I've got nothing against rap but | don't buy rap records and | don'tlisten to it"). Nor is he ashamed to admit that “those cliche alternative bands” are his favorites. Thats right — the Pixies and My