Well, they do say you should never judge a book by its cover. The same goes for records and CDs. Personally, I think this only partly true: I’ve bought many books and records on the strength of their artwork, and been mighty chuffed that I have.
This promo CD didn’t come with a cover. In fact, it came wrapped in a folded gig flyer with a press release flapping around. How does one judge that? But then I head the music and it all made sense.
The emphasis is definitely on awkward. Hawkin’s vocal is raw, rough and ragged, but just about manages to approximate a melody. ‘I’ve had my fun / I’ve had my moment / and wasn’t it something / wasn’t it sweet / the party is over / and I’m on the scrap heap’ he intimates with a snarling sneer.
There’s more than a hint of the gothic, high on drama and OTT theatrical flourishes – and of goth (I’m thinking old-school, somewhere between Alien Sex Fiend and Danse Society) – about it, due in no small part to the squirming guitar line which is trebly yet murky with reverb and naggingly insistent. As the song builds – and over the course of seven and a quarter minutes, how it builds! The introduction of the rhythm section is like thunder – Hawkins spits out his sorry tale of a life of failure and dejection with increasing desperation. I can’t tell if the sensation I’m feeling is the hairs standing up on the back of my neck or my skin crawling. Either way, it’s a reflection of the intensity of Hawkins and co’s seething rage and disaffection.
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Before you realise it, the relentless guitar riff and punishing drumming has whipped up a maelstrom that almost buries the vocals and surely the tension can’t last indefinitely... And then it all collapses in a cacophony of vocal echo and clattering snares.
‘The Epilogue’ comes are rather a welcome spot of light relief after the assault of ‘I’ve had My Fun.’ It’s altogether poppier and upbeat sounding, with a catchy, singalong chorus. Don’t be fooled, though: the lyrics are still dark and disillusioned.
(Post)-punk at its best.
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