Beat Motel review
The new issue of Beat Motel fanzine includes a really good review of Rumble by Andrew Culture. Thanks Lawsie! You can order your own copy of the zine from their website using paypal. It only costs £2 including postage and is well worth it for 80 pages of entertaining and informative content.
Too many bands these days try and fly before they can musically walk, the advent of good quality home recording gear has meant a lot of bands are putting out albums when they should still be a couple of years away from recording their first EP. Tons of bands that fall into this trap end up sounding more like Keith Harris and Orville at Felixstowe Spa Pavilion than Metallica at Donnington Monsters of Rock. Whilst the Psychotic Reaction have an undeniable lo-fi edge they totally validate the whole home recorded field. This album should stand as a shining example of what can be done with skill, talent, song writing ability and a limitless amount of time for recording. This band shits out smart ideas, and nothing seems forced. The whole album has a laid back vibe that (far from getting boring) keeps you very interested. The variety they present makes this album like some sort of journey. Imagine what Badly Drawn Boy would be like if his output was actually interesting. There are shadows of so many influences in this band, ranging from Love, Velvet Underground to almost any band signed to Creation Records in the late 80s. ‘Rumble’ oozes intelligence and stays a healthy shake away from disappearing up its own arse. If I was pinned to the ground by a giant slug that demanded negative criticism I’d say the album’s start is far too meandering. I have to sit and listen to the entire album to be able to review it properly but maybe Joe Public would get bored and switch off, admittedly it would be their loss, but a shame never the less. Just as a final comment, they have one of the strangest bass sounds I’ve ever heard, it sounds like it either came from the ark or was made using the same wood!