Flip flops for Goths National Snack : Apply Machine (www.myspace.com/nationalsnack) Flattery will get you everywhere. So now will you believe me when I say that this is pretty good? Angular, spiky, brooding, driven, packed with attitude and boasting some rather magnificently entwined male and female vocals, this ep is 6 songs (and a secret track) in search of an audience. First track 'Mischief' is a punky-funk workout that would shift the most stubborn of Christmas stains, track 5 is a growly restrained paean to the castrating influence of retail and 'Rock and Roll' makes a storming song out of the medium's own limitations. Easy pegs to hang this on? Gang of Four, a less macho RATM, and for the drumming at the start of 'My Head Hurts', Fuck Dress duetting with Bow Wow Wow. Despite Pop Idol Pap and X Factor flatulence there is a lot of innovative, groundbreaking exciting music out there all you have to do is search below the tinselled wrappings. Did you know they sell flip flops for Goths in the Camden store? Exactly. Engine 'Fringe' (Beefy Marauder Recordings / myspace.com/enginetunes) Engine are from Baltimore, which is pretty exciting for them and their DIY record label Beefy Marauder Recordings, who are about spreading DIY revolt to the citizens of Leeds and beyond. They even sent me a 'One Solution Revolution' sticker, which has to be one of my favourite Christmas presents. In fact so DIY and revolutionary are they that they neglected to put any music on the CD, which is one way of ensuring that all is reviewed are the political intentions of the piece, which is always my favourite style of review anyway. And on that level they score top marks.
The Uncomfortables : Doom Jazz (myspace.com/theuncomfortables) Tom Jones : 24 Hours Rosey R*E*P*E*A*T
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