by
Howdy,
My enthusiasm has kinda run out lately which is why I haven’t written anything for ages. Despite getting a million and one great CDs, I just couldn’t be arsed. The pile has got so big that my parents are starting having ago at me at making the dinning room look like a tip. So I thought I’d better do something… so here goes.
Mountain Men Anonymous – Yet another English band that have crossed the Welsh border to seek fame and fortune, well actually they just wanted a gig as not much was happening in their hometown of Gloucester. Since the move they’ve had countless gigs in Cardiff playing with the likes of Teflon Monkey, Cubare, Tommy & The Chauffeur, Zabrinski and Mclusky, which have resulted in interest from Radio 1’s Session in Wales as well as local and national press.
Despite their young age, Mountain Men Anonymous play with the same amount of expertise normally associated with the likes of Godspeed You Black Emperor and Post-rock’s living legend Dave Pajo. If you like plenty of guitar noodling, tricky time signature changes, deafening feedback and distant vocal and strange samples, then you’ll love Mountain Men Anonymous.
They’re releasing the 'Private Hypochondriac' L.P on their own label sometime soon, but before that there will be a limited edition split 7” with Teflon Monkey on the 12th. It’ll be on As The Duck Bit Back which is a monthly single clubs launched by Kev and Sober at Big Scary Monsters. They also have a couple of gigs lined up in February:
12th February – The Lift, Brighton
90 Day Men, Teflon Monkey + Mountain Men Anonymous
14th February- Flapper & Firkin, Birmingham
San Lorenzo, Teflon Monkey + Mountain Men Anonymous
15th February - Upstairs At The Garage, London
Spraydog, Teflon Monkey + Mountain Men Anonymous
22th February - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
Christopher Rees, Teflon Monkey + Mountain Men Anonymous
Audio: Unwanted Affection (WAV)
Website: www.mountainmenanonymous.freeserve.co.uk
The Strokes- The latest band to cross the Atlantic with the aim to assault our eardrums. Oh god that sounds like there like Linkin Park or Amen, eeek. The nu-metal scene doesn’t influence these retro-rockers in the slightest; these kids have grown up on a musical diet of The Velvet Underground, The Fall and The Stooges.
Their superb debut release ‘The Modern Age’ is out now on Rough Trade and they have four UK dates, click here for more details.
Audio: The Modern Age (MP3)
Website: www.thestrokes.com
Ursa – MMMMM… I guess they’re four goofballs who play a slightly bent version of rock music. Ursa are a bit Shellac-esque with their loud/quiet/start/stop dynamics, but you can also hear hints of Unwound, Fugazi and Tool in there as well. Jodie Cox’s vocals are quite scary in places as they’re almost identical to Maynard James Keenan.
They have a gig at The Monarch, Camden on the 10th February with Monsoon Bassoon and they’ll feature on Bad Music’s compilation CD, god knows when that’ll be out though.
*Audio: * The Mistake(MP3)
*Website: * www.geocities.com/ursauk
Tendency Falling - "I should of realised that it was my day to die", guess where they’re from? Yep you got it they’re from the deepest darkest depths of Colchester. They’ve changed considerably since I reviewed their demo for The Last Resort (DiS with 3 writers, Me, Sean and Matthew J). Their latest E.P ‘Demonstrations’ sounds like Six by Seven but with a more Space Rock/Electronica feel to them.
*Audio: * Breathe (Clearer Now) (MP3)
*Website: * www.tendencyfalling.co.uk
Freezepop – I guess Freezepop are America’s version of Add N To (X). Freezepop are two guys and a girl who sing songs about fucking robots, whilst fiddling with moogs, vocoders and various other electronic gizmos.
*Audio: * Breathe (Clearer Now) (MP3)
*Website: * www.freezepop.net
nopassingphase updates
Herrod – Herrod will release an E.P featuring live favourites ‘Undeserving’ and ‘Angular’ via their website. They’ll also be on the second As The Duck Bit Back 7” with San Lorenzo, this will feature a newie and a rerecorded version of one of their demo tracks. The band are currently working on five new songs which will probably be previewed at the following gigs:
15th February - The Star and Garter, Manchester
17th February - Atlantic Studio, Halifax
20th February - The Witchwood, Ashton Under Lynne
Teflon Monkey – Rhodri’s Placid Casual E.P has now been put back till March, if you can’t wait till then you can listen to one-minute samples of two of the songs on his website. He recorded the As The Duck Bit Back 7” songs with Sam from Mountain Men Anonymous. He’s also been working with Gorky’s and Zabrinksi and will feature on the bands next releases.
San Lorenzo – Lorenzo played a “pretty damn good!” gig in Guildford with The Oedipus and Escanna, John Peel played ‘Sports Biscuits’ on his Radio 1 show last week. They recorded a brand new song to go with ‘Chilavert’ for the As The Duck Bit Back’s April split 7” with Herrod, and will be playing as part of the ATDBB launch party in Birmingham on Valentine’s Day. Owen’s also finished off his solo L.P ‘Box Of Tapes’, which will now be released on his own label ‘Sacred Geometry’ out should be out in March. Oz did the artwork with his girlfriend… aah bless.
This might be last ever nopassingphase column on DiS as I’ll be taking a DiS holiday (for an unspecified time) after I’ve reviewed that pile of CDs. However if I get a fantastic CD that you lot need to know about, I guess I’ll have to tell you. The reason for break is to give me time to sort out nopassingphase the label, and maybe set up some club nights somewhere.
nopassingphase archive
Sorry for mentioning As The Duck Bit Back so many times… I suggested a load of bands to Kev and he’s actually releasing stuff by em… mug! ;)
