| THE LAUGHING DEAD, 2000 |
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Director: S.P. Somtow
Starring: Tim Sullivan, Wendy Webb, Patrick Roskowick ...
A group of American tourists goes to Mexico on educational tour to study ancient ways of the Aztecs and Mayas as well as the modern rites of Oaxaca's festival of Laughing Dead. But this busload of tourists get an education they don't expect: an advanced course of terror. Idea and story are original and OK, but the realization, actors, directing and special effects are more on amateur level. Unfortunately, I expected much more. As the sleeve says "John Bueckler", the creator of horror effects for The Ghoulies, Re-Animator, Troll, From Beyond, Halloween IV, Nightmare On Elm Street IV) lends his amazing talents to The laughing Dead to invent some of the most frightening scenes ever put on film". But, effects are really not that great. Anyway for good horror movie effects are not enough, actors are pretty bad and Laughing Dead was big disappointment for me.
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LOOSE "ROCK THE FUCK ON" CD, Punch Records 2003 |
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Loose are from Italy and they are weird band. Their music is strongly inspired by good 70s rock'n'roll and punk rock - bands like Radio Birdman, Stooges, MC5 with slight psych influence. They have guy who plays organ and piano and that gives special dimension to their sound. Nice and heavy acid rock guitars with here and there cool wah wah solo. Vocal could be a bit more angry in fast songs. It's not very clear to me, but it seems that 2 guys are singing in Loose - Paolo and Massimo and I really don't know who is who. But I like Loose. 13 songs including 2 covers (Stooges + MC5). My favorites are: "My Shelter" that reminds me a lot of Radio Birdman and "Somewhere" - acid psych punk. "Underground Pride" has also special gust on sax and it sounds very interesting and cool - really good done, heavy guitars with sax (different from Stooges on 2nd album). When you open the CD booklet you have live photo and Loose look pretty cool live too.
Loose: http://www.loose-rock.com, sonic-clymax@libero.it
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| MARVEL "BADLAM AT THE EMBASSY" 7"EP, Black Juju 2004
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Marvel is one of my favorite new bands. "Badlam At The Embassy" is their 3rd release. I'm really fascinated with their music, but also with great coverart - even the press material is in the same style. This time we get gatefold sleeve with the comic inside + new card - this time with Marvel's enemy Doctor Spats. Of course I must not forget mind-blowingly great EP with 4 songs. It's great early 70s heavy acid psych rock. Sound is unbelievably in 70s style. I have a friend who is into such bands and I played him Marvel telling him this was an unknown 70s band. He really fell for it! "Power Of Attraction" is groovy hard rock with Latin rhythm - weird congas bongos percussions. Sounds crazy and I love it. "Son Of A Gupsy" and "Since That Day" are more like MC5, Blue Cheer with great heavy fuzz guitar riffs and super cool acid psych solos. Vocal is of course great and a bit punky. "These Boots Are Made For Flying" is super fast heavy rockin' killer. Marvel definitely deserves more popularity. And I can hardly wait for their new r'n'r comic episodes.
Marvel: http://www.marvel.nu, info@marvel.nu
Black Juju: http://come.to/blackjuju, blackjuju101@hotmail.com
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| MASH GORDON "STEP RECORD", demo CD |
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When I received this CD and pressed play button, I wasn't very optimistic about Mash Gordon. The first song "Tonite" was OK, but didn't promise much. It was OK and little bit weird electro punk new wave - not retro and old fashioned, little bit different. But next song "Hot Like A Popcorn Machine" made me jump out of my chair. This song is super cool and groovy minimal synth electro punk wave. Mash Gordon sound like they are from strange planet. They are really good in making all this electronic stuff - like Kraftwerk or D.A.F. They are from Germany and I guess they already have it in their blood. Their music is really great, totally cool and very difficult describe and put them in some genre. It's really weird and great crossover between electro wave like D.A.F. and Kraftwerk, modern stuff, new wave and of course punk. "Sniff Some (Elektro Ramones Cover)" is small masterpiece. The title says it all - very weird electro punk Ramones remix. I don't know which one of these guys is the singer, but he reminds me of the guy from Blur. Well, not really my favorite band, but I like his vocal. "Kim Yong Ill Blues" is great song - one of my favorites here. Great rhythm box programming, loud punk guitar, weird synth sound and noises and super cool harmonica solo. "119 Cents" sounds like Kraftwerk on ecstasy play kbd punk. "Disko Stardust" is Kraftwerk, D.A.F. disco wave. I'm totally into garage punk, but I love, more than anything else, when a band makes something different, something new and great. Mash Gordon maybe don't have any releases, but they are already one of my favorite bands. So pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaase somebody put this stuff on record. Go to their web site - you can download their songs.
Mash Gordon: http://www.mashgordon.com
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| THE MONOCAINES - DEMO CD, 2003 |
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The Monocaines are from Hamburg, Germany. Their music is mix of 60s garage and power pop with slight touch of soul. They are not just one more mod band 'cos they say themselves "we ain't mods". And they are right. They are more punky and raw and primitive! "Back In My Arms Again" will appear on Larsen zine 7" (issue 21). It's great and very catchy song. "Get Ready" is famous Temptations cover, but done much faster, more punky with great organ and groovy garage guitar. Very dancy and also pretty wild. The 3rd song on this cool demo CD is also a cover - "You're No Good". I know this song by Swinging Blue Jeans, but I'm not if it's their originally. Anyway, The Monocaines version different and little bit strange and more bluesy. Well, 3 songs are finished pretty fast and I need more. I hope we'll hear from Monocaines again. I also hope they'll record more of their own songs. Anyway, very promising new band!
The Monocaines: http://www.mitglied.lycos.de/monocaines, monocaines@lycos.de
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