100,000 Body Bags – Three track demo
100,000 Body Bags…mmm…… I can’t say I’m too impressed with the name, but you never know it may grow.
What I was impressed with was the bands three track demo. The cassette boasts, ‘Pretty Thing’, ‘Sister Virtue’ and ‘Laura is’. The latter with its catchy tempo changes worms its way under your skin in no time at all; one play and you’re infected.
It’s hard to make definite comparisons but there certainly a rock/punk crossover feel lurking in there. The band themselves come from Blackwood, home of The Manics. In fact, the press release states, ‘our only claim to fame is that The Manics supported a band two of us used to be in!”
They list their influences as Nirvana, Pegboy, N.W.A., Didjits, Public Enemy, so I suppose that’ll give you an idea of where they’re coming from.
Cranked up really loud the songs are stirring and far-reaching. If you’d like a copy send a blank cassette and a S.A.E. and your dreams will come true. After all, if you’re into discovering new bands you’ll do well to discover this lot.
Steve Andrews – ‘Dive in Deep’ LP
Steve Andrews draws his influences from a wide area, a fact supported by a wide array of instruments used to make this album.
‘Dive in Deep’ is a collection of seventeen songs, fourteen of which were recorded in the studio, the other three recorded in Steve’s second home, The Chapter Bar in Cardiff.
‘Superhero’ the opening track is quite a good guide to what’s to follow, catchy rhythm-driven tunes. However on saying that, he does deviate slightly from the norm with ‘Insect Inside’. The vocals sounded like a latter-day Public Image!
Another song to stir the mind is ‘Cariad Jwngl’ (the Welsh language version of ‘Jungle Love’) which is beyond all doubt the strongest track on the album; the atmosphere created is something else.
You can’t really go wrong with ‘Dive in Deep’. If you’d like a copy write to Steve at…..
Picture The Beautiful – ‘Your London Home’
Hot on the heels of the band’s first demo comes ‘Your London Home’, a two track demo which includes, ‘Asylum’ and ‘Lucile’.
The former track flashes images of ‘Psycho’ into the corners of your mind; both disturbing and brilliant at the same time.
‘Lucile’ follows on in the same vain – ‘If God was a woman, lie, lie, lie.’
Both tracks fall to the left and right of the straight and narrow. If you’d like a change from your three minute pop song this is for you; it’s certainly for me!
The Godseys – ‘Paint’
The second demo from the Godseys contains three tracks; ‘Two Tone’, ‘Sense of humour’ and ‘Close your eyes’.
The band themselves, freely admit they find it difficult to capture their live sound in the studio but they reckon they’ve almost done it with this release.
The songs aren’t particularly immediate but improve with continued play. My personal favourite is ‘Sense of humour’, which is so laid back.
By the way, the cover is the best I’ve seen for a demo – hand-painted in blue, grey and white on a white background, so simple but so effective. Could this be the start to something special, the rival to 4AD?
Copies of the demo are £2 which includes P&P. The band is now based in Swansea and you can contact Pete at……………..
Ty Gwydr – Reu (Ankst Records)
If you’re into rave/techno then this is for you. Wales’ top techno terrorists are back with their latest four-track release.
Amongst the hypnotic rhythms you’ll find several interesting Welsh and English language samples, a clear sign that Messrs Lugg, Potter and Co are trying to reach the largest possible audience. And reach the largest possible audience they should. You won’t find a finer mix of dance tracks than this.
My own favourites are ‘Anwaraidd’ (Uncivilised) and ‘Welsh Ragga’, complete with its The Man Azeek sample.
Ty Gwydr come highly recommended. Enter the world of the glasshouse!
The Megaton Men – ‘I’m A Conservative’ (Megaton)
Before the dust has had a chance to settle on their debut album, The Megaton Men are back with a single; a cover of Iggy Pop’s, ‘I’m a conservative’, pleasantly presented on blue vinyl.
The Megaton Men’s sound is a mix of noise and melody and this offering is no different. Roland’s vocals sound incredibly American, lost somewhere between The Dead Kennedys and Iggy himself.
The band’s taking some time off to concentrate on writing some new material. The word is that it’s going to be cranked up even more, so if you’re into power pop, grab the single while you can. It’s a cover Iggy himself would be proud of!
Fflaps – ‘Fflaps’ (Central Slate)
Fflaps are back with probably the best album of ’92 so far. Now on Central Slate, this is their tightest collection of songs to date.
True to form, they’ve returned with more noise and rhythm; the difference being this release is a lot more controlled than either of their previous two long players.
Fflaps were the band that kept their head when all those around them were losing theirs. They almost single-handedly stopped the late 80’s from becoming a musical wasteland. When other bands were jumping on the dance band wagon, the three-some were busy nurturing their own special sound.
‘Fflaps’ is unmistakably Fflaps; this time with a tighter sound and a touch of keyboard.
It’s difficult to choose between the songs, but if forced I’d go for ‘Arwyr Duwiol’. Jonny’s drums and Alan’s bass again work wonders in the alternative rhythm section. Ann’s vocals are again locked on nursery rhyme mode.
If you haven’t already given the Fflaps a whirl, it’s about time you did because this is one album that gets a gold star.
Reviews by Darren Jones