Taped Up

Rip It Up, Issue 179, 1 June 1992, Page 30

Taped Up

THIS WILL KILL THAT Nailed Out (Really Big Records) The mood here slips and slides, sometimes TWKT drive as hard as SPUD, other times the singer's vocals sound a bit wimpy. Unfortunately, the sound quality on side two muffles the interesting guitar detail This Will Kill That etch into their songs, the sonic scrawl in back of 'Slide Sharpened Up' and the wah-wah wig-out on 'Stripper'. Titles like 'She's A Beautiful Bitch' hint at classic thwarted-male lyrical preoccupations. That aside, a cool debut. Six songs, $lO from Really Big Records, PO Box 27322, Wellington DONNAYUZWALK CLAY Catcher (Really Big Records) One of the first cassette releases from this new Wellington label, Clay come off much better here than they did recently live in Auckland. Effects on the vocals seem to ventilate the atmosphere and they sound pleasantly heavy in places, like a baby Bailterspace. The music is still repetitive, sombre chords and riffs played at a portentous pace while David Coventry emits wards of warning in the background. Still, it sounds pretty effective here. Perhaps they just played too long the other night? $lO (six songs) from Really Big Records, PO Box 27322, Wellington. DONNA YUZWALK - THE CURSE OF NEVER MIND Opus Locus cassette More hocus pocus from the Opus Locus studios: The Curse, Volume Three, a patchwork soundquilt of songs culled from the likes of Chris Knox, Fatal Jelly Space Drill, Letter Five ' (Matthew Bannister and Richard James), Venus Christ, Hieronymus Bosch and a host of mystery acts. This is anti-budget eight/ four track recording at it's best. Seventeen quirky (and slightly murky) songs — full-on guitar

I mayhem or just a voice accompanied by a bass pulse or frazzled organ (guess who). Things get poignant ('Dreams Are Free' by Rupert, not the ex-Chook), ambient, surreal or downright 'Serious and Nihilistic', an . ace track from Fatal Jelly Space. Don't know about the Opus Locus advertising bite at the end of the tape, though, guys. There are more musical and lyrical ideas on offer here than you'll find on any of a dozen official local releases I ■. could mention. If the Arts Council really think they're sponsoring indiginous creativity, they should send a grant in the direction of Opus Locus. >l' Incidentally, Opus Locus might not be able to do another Curse unless they shift some units. $lO gets you the tape, packed in individually-paint splattered cases complete with two free psychedelic stickers and a tiny but detailed booklet telling you all about the music. So write to Opus Locus at PO Box 45034, Auckland 8 without delay) DONNA YUZWALK LITTLE STEVIE MCCABE Rock ,'n' Roll Hound Dog (Sleek Bott cassette) Boy, he just keeps 'em coming — and Rock 'n'Roll Hound Dog "a collection of new songs; old favourites . and rock 'n'roll standards lovingly put together for your listening pleasure' according to the artist — is a smart one. Of the newer originals, 'Sue Me' is one of his best, sort of a John --' Lennon/ Cole Porter missing link with a reggae-stylee "toast" section and psychedelic guitar coda and elsewhere there's revivals of some of his great songs of yore — 'Cabin B' . (again), 'A Pair of Chords' (again) and covers including a version of Red < Foley's 'Old Shep' that it's hard to believe was the work of a sober man. Ritchie Venus (to whom the work is dedicated) 'd be proud. DUANEZARAKOV SWIM EVERYTHING (Cassette Album) The Christchurch three-piece - recorded this back at the end of 1 990, live on TEAC four track, a solid album's worth of their well-made brand of guitar pop. Swim Everything hover in the Jesus and Mary Chain meets Rat Cat bracket. Not as fuzzed out and

downbeat as the former and with some of the pop hookiness of the latter (and the same bent for the odd spooky vocal sample). Nothing too original, but executed with some flair. DONNA YUZWALK

Karen Hay has been reinstated to her rightful place as the country's only credible rock video show on TV3's TVFM. Since returning from England, the popular ex-Radio With Pictures person has been living on Waiheke Island with partner Fagan, working as a producer for Kids' TV / Yahoo and writing. She has also directed two videos for Shona Laing. Has Karyn ever wanted to be in a band? "I'm not a frustrated musician desperate to play the tambourine," she replies, "This is not Spinal Tap."

Top 3 albums: Seance, The Church. Goodbye Jumbo, World Party. Here Comes the Cars, David Kilgour. All-time fave song: , I think this question is too specific. Last record bought: I don't buy records.

Last book read: Training Your Dog to Win Obedience Titles by Curt Morsell. Fave NZ Poet: Andrew Fagan '■ ' Fave item of NZ kitsch: ■ Colin Hogg I Thing you most miss about I Britain. I Choices I Most embarrassing TV moment: I The television's not worth getting I embarrassed over. I Person in history you'd most like I to interview. I No-one.