25th May, 1998


Nobbled by Pixies

Single of the Week

"Slain By Elf" by Urusei Yatsura

Forever condemned with the critical acclaim of being the UK masters of lo-fi (i.e. they sound good, but they'll never have a hit), Urusei Yatsura seem to have had enough. Certainly judging by their recent appearance at the Edinburgh Venue, where Graham introduced this as "our new single, don't buy it - it's crap" before playing an incendiary version of "Slain By Elf" then flinging his guitar into the wall in disgust. Disheartened he may have been, but he was lying. This burst of Pavement-style grunge is by means crap, instead searing through your head like a fire-breathing anime dragon (or elf), flying over the new serious landscape and launching blistering neon dayglo napalm attacks on the po-faced indie factions as it does so.

"Hail To The New Poor" sound like The Fall, both in title and execution (a complement - Mark E Mark's band of reprobates are the epitome of indie fu-q), and is a discordant buzzsaw of a track with abrasive megaphone vocals scratched across the top. "What's Wrong With Me" is last, a Fergus track that parodies the indie bedsit angst with its torpor-filled vocals and "December every day" lyrics.

This band are one of the most innovative, exciting and damned fun outfits on the planet, and they look like they're on the verge of packing it in. Buy this and let them know you care.

Rating: 10/10

The Rest

"I Would Fix You" by Kenickie

Last year's "At The Club" LP was one of my faves of 97, with some marvellously intelligent and mature tracks hidden amongst the sparkling fake gems like "Punka". "I Would Fix You" is a companion to those such tracks, with a Spectoresque girl group musical feel and some wry and bittersweet lyrics ("these things are hard to think of when you've been broke in two - I will fix you"). Forget for a moment the tales of hard-drinking partygoing Geordie nutters, and listen objectively to this swoonsome offering from one of the UK's finest bands and daydream, kicking your heels in its warm waves of melodic pop.

"Packed In" begins with the best lyric of the week - "Put that boy down, you don't know where he's been" - then continues in punked-up Shangri-Las fashion, baiting the object of its derision with jagged guitar punches and new wave moog salvos. Also here is the "Mint Royale" mix of "I Would Fix You", that introduces the song to the shagtastic world inhabited by the likes of Austin Powers, turning it into a far kitscher and slightly less effective shadow of its former self.

This band know exactly where it's at, and where they want to go. Repeat after me: "Kenickie are not a disposable pop band, Kenickie are not a disposable pop band..."

Rating: 9/10

"Sweet Johnny" by Gorky's Zygotic Mynci

Another bunch of mavericks working away at subverting the music industry on their own terms (and eating platefuls of "colourful" mushrooms whilst they do so), Gorky's Zygotic Mynci inhabit a world into which they let no-one else enter. Instead they let you glimpse into it every now and again, such as with "Sweet Johnny", whose psychedelic-hued stained glass window reveals the sight of Grease-era John Travolta forced to jam with the Ramones whilst hordes of small Welsh pygmies dance around in a frenzy, resulting in the bizarrest and most incongrous ending this side of a Lynda LaPlante thriller. Nice, but you wouldn't want to live there.

Next is the relative sanity of "Un Hogyn Trist, Un Hogan Drist", a Welsh language number (doh, really?) laced with equal parts folk and country. Imagine a Welsh Dolly Parton and you're not too far off. Dai Parton perhaps? (I'll get to use my "Centre Parton" joke in a review some day...). "Mifi Mihafan" is last, a keyboard number that starts off ballad, changes into a knees-up halfway through, then alternates indie pop and country swing until the ballad closes things up again. Which is good value at least.

Rating: 7/10

"Wishing I Was There" by Natalie Imbruglia

Nat is so cute and doe-eyed that given a choice between her and Bambi, most people would be having venison sandwiches for supper. Especially when her songs are of the high quality shown here with "Wishing I Was Here". A bit too AOR and Alanisish for me, but I'd rather have Ms Imbruglia blinking innocently than Rick "F" Witter and his gang of goons leering at me on TOTP. Which makes me as shallow as a testosterone-filled puddle, but that's life.

We are treated to a pleasantly fine live version of "Big Mistake" next, recorded for MTV. This song has the wonderful "bubbles of love" line and is thus above reproach. Next up is "Why", which sounds scarily like Kula Shaker - fronted by someone with an ounce of credibility mind you. As rocktastic as someone that looks like the heroine from a Disney movie can be.

Rating: 7/10

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