I'm surmising when I suggest Toronto's funeral parlour-dwelling duo DEATH FROM ABOVE have added the 1979 appedage to their name because of the similarity to James Murphy's DFA production opus, but whatever, '1979' makes sense if we take its' usage as a reference to some of that year's futuristic-pointing, rhythmically-inclined records such as PIL'S "Metal Box" and Gang Of Four's "Entertainment."
Because, these are the signposts - along with the likes of those records' current spiritual descendants like !!! and Radio 4 - leading to DFA 1979's threatening, but rather fantastic rumblings. Being subjected to this second EP - the follow-up to the yardstick-raising "Blood On Our Hands" - your reviewer again finds himself marvelling that only two geezers (helped by a few Moog oscillations) can make this sort of shockingly intense racket. The White Stripes they definitely ain't.
"Romantic Rights" is flung at us in three separate, and wholly distinct forms here. Alfonzo Falcone's Love From Below is arguably the better of the two remixes, as it brings congas rumbling forth and a slippery liquid bassline that batters on "Louden Up Now!"s door before sliding into one mad fuck of a groove. The 'Phones Lovers' remix is no slouch either, mind. This time it's glitchy, cut-up, dangerous and much more recognisable as killer dancefloor fare with its' sleek, re-tooled moves.
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The original version, meanwhile, features flanged riffery and matches the heaviosity and attack of "Blood On Our Hands", except it's groovier and sexier. Well, if your idea of 'sexier' involves handcuffs, obscene phone calls and your would-be suitor urging: "C'mon baby I love your company, we could do it, start a family" on your first date. But that's a matter of personal (dis)taste.
The EP'S rounded up by a brutal thrash through "Do It 93!" from Rio of all places. This has the subtlety of a twenty-car pile up and its' idea of a pastoral interlude is probably gargling with industrial strength creosote.But even romantic chaps like these need the occasional primal scream, right?
Anyway, you'll be able to judge for yourselves again soon, as the Canadian wing of the current guerilla gigging scene will be rumbling into the UK come November. Lock up your goldfish and restuff those sofas: the world's most deranged pair of would-be elephants will soon be taking up residence in the living room. Again.
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