HeadCleaner Single Reviews

4th August, 1997

"Anthem" by The Wildhearts

Are this lot trendy? Who cares - this is one mad mental mutha of a song. Two robots going at it on a rusty tin roof whilst Jesus Jones and Nine Inch Nails batter each other on the heads with steel poles. Some songs are radio-friendly, some are not. "Anthem" rushes up to the radio, foaming at the mouth and beats it into pieces with a baseball bat. I am scared of this song: it is Good.

On the b-side is "So Good To Be Back Home" (the one the Eurythmics did), which the Wildhearts take hostage, douse in kerosene then slice the ear off. I've got a headache now. Track 3 is "Time To Let You Go", and is a slower - yet just as sonic boombastic - number that grinds along like a hot knife through concrete.

There is a place for epic, romantic, swoonsome material. There is a place for rousing singalong anthems. And there is a place for parent-baiting, apocalyptic nonsense; The Wildhearts fill that place nicely.

Rating: 9/10

The Rest

"Best Regrets" by Geneva

And here in fact are the epic, romantic, swoonsome contingent. With "Best Regrets", Geneva set their sights on the hi-nrg target, running up to it with big spangly platform shoes on, shrieking at it in an angelically shrill voice, then skipping off merrily with their thoughts all gossamer clouds and crystalline waterfalls. By no means Geneva's best, this is still a thrill - a big and beautiful tub-thumper that knows its limits and stays within them.

Next up is "Feel The Joy", a slow, (early) Radiohead-ish number that trickles along nicely, featuring some impressive and moody guitar noises throughout. Last is "Raymond Chandler", a mounting grower of a track that gathers momentum but continues on a little too long.

Perhaps not the big thing that they were feted to be, Geneva are still one of our most exciting and original bands, and are worth a million plodding Dadrock dross. Be nice to them.

Rating: 8/10

"Just As You Are" by Feline

Imagine Saffron from Republica fronting Hole and you get some idea of what Feline sound like. "Just As You Are" is a blistering guitar rocker with punky female vocals. "We love you just as you are" they sing, demanding that you do the same of them. Oh, ok then, especially when Feline produce such gutsy and listenable stuff such as this.

Extra tracks are "Highway", a rocking Throwing Muses style stormer and "Two Minds", which hinges around a pendulum bass line to cook up a grungy concoction. Last up is "Shape Changing", a fairly weak slowie that seems to suggest Feline are at their best when loud.

Rating: 8/10

"Supercharged" by Elcka

Elcka want to be Pulp so bad it hurts. It's quite painful for us too. "Supercharged" is all of Pulp's last album rolled up into one overpowering and self-knowing package. Not nice.

On the b-side lives "Paradise In Poison" that is at least not quite so much like Cocker's crew. It is instead dodgy goth nonsense. Then we get "Try", which is like The Cure. Crossed with Pulp. Oh dear.

Rating: 3/10

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