STRIGGLES /
REFLECTOR - split
(7”,
noise appeal / interstellar / rock is hell)
Two weeks ago I happened to be roaming about in my
cellar and I opened an old box and found some old fanzines. So on a hunch I
decided to grab two issues of Howl magazine, number 10 and 11 from late
1991, to read them. What a riot. I was instantly drawn back into the best
years of my teen/twendom. The records reviewed all happened to somehow make
it into my collection throughout the years. There are articles about the
Honeymoon Killers, Louis Tillet, Thin White Rope, Sympathy for the record
industry, Antiseen, Posion Idea, Okra records, Melvins on their new album
"bullhead" and so on. All
the greatest noiserock and grunge rock is there. One reviewer rants about
the first single by Hole saying they will never stand a chance of ever
making a name for themselves. There is even an advertisement for Nirvana’s
“Nevermind” with a copytext reading: “they are already a hot name
amongst scenesters in England!” And you know what else was obviously all
the rage around ’91? Single clubs. And I mean record labels that release
special singles and send them to subscribers. I bet all of those are worth a
million now.
Now here is a single where two great noise rock bands
cover each other’s songs. How cool is that!? Makes me feel even more like
1991. Reflector kick into “Sorry” with a slow (what else!) noise rocker
with distorted vocals mixed into the back, which makes it sound like one of
my favorite noiserock bands from back then, Distorted Pony. If you know them
you are a friend of mine. Then they break into a basic Melvins-Metal-riff
that will make them a lot of friends, I am sure. Then back to slow grind.
The Striggles on the other hand add some falsetto vocals to
“Disillusion” and bang away on hit with heavy drums and bass and a
distorted guitar the way it should be. I am thinking Tar constantly. And
then Chokebore. And then Tar. Closing down The Striggles pay tribute to
Reflector’s outstanding approach to music by having a long, echoing drum
solo that sounds more like Joe Prestons Melvins/Kiss-Solo-12”.
Believe you me, The Striggles’ “Aloha” and
Reflector’s “Pass” are amongst the best albums that have been released
in 2009. So you better also try to get ahold of this seven inch to deepen
the impact and give some nice people a friendly handshake.
PS: If you happen to own some more issues of Howl
magazine, early ones especially, drop me a line. If you have the
accompanying seven inch to go along, I pay good money for that.
