Dudebox "Track Of The Spring"

Oh yes, MMT back again with another brief foray into the super-duper world of the Milton Keynes Music Scene And Their MySpaces. As we mentioned last time there’s literally hundreds of MK-based bands with MySpaces, especially if you factor in bands no longer going, so it can be a bit of a task sifting through. But hey – it’s a fun task!

And then when you stumble across something you didn’t expect to hear – like a rare “Classic Indie” sounding local band such as Final Clearance – it’s an extra-special treat! I can’t believe I haven’t come across them before – clever lyrics, sharp melodies, right up my street. They’ve even got a home-music video on their MySpace, just the ticket! Try “Lost” if you’ve only got time to listen to one track, it’s a folky-tinged stomper. But come on, who’s that busy? Listen to them all!

Plus you get those Classic MySpace DIY things, more “projects” than “bands” – f’rinstance this young lady singer-songwriter (J:TU.) clearly just records her own stuff, hopefully in a bedroom – I’m not sure if she even plays gigs, though she sounds ace! I even contacted her to ask if she wanted a Waterside slot, but she never replied – and it doesn’t look like she’s logged in to her MySpace for almost a year, so maybe she’s over it! Check out the multi-layered vocal-only track “Pick Me Up” though, or the wistful electronica of “Walking all over the world”. Very impressive indeed – though as they’re not that recent I can’t include them for this season’s Tracks. More than I have already.

So instead I moved on to Hiding In Reno who already seem to be one of the most acclaimed of the local bands “doing the circuit” at the moment. Not only are they Craufurd Arms regulars, they’re touring outside MK this summer with their sweet-edged metal-pop. Even going as far as ace seaside town Weston-super-Mare! Standout track for me is “Alone”.

Rise Inside are also doing really well, both locally and further afield – it’s not every MK band that get to headline the Pitz, especially within a year of their first gig! It’s heavy stuff, very much in “The Pitz Genre” (they’re actually managed by the main Pitz guy), but with a definite melodic edge that lifts them above many of their contemporaries. Listen to the bit about a minute in to “Born Defeated” where the thrashing and screaming stops and gives way to a gentle acoustic moment, or the aching harmonies on “Reach Further”. Light and shade. Good stuff! Definitely “ones to watch”, pop-pickers!

Cos if there’s one genre MK does well – especially if you’re a Pitz regular – it’s the deathier end of metal. Fell Silent have been around a few years now, but are doing well enough to be releasing a debut album this summer on a real life record label and playing “Metalfest III” this August in London. It’s a niche scene I suppose, but a loyal one if you’re in it. And you either dig it or you don’t, really. I do dig it, but particularly (as with Rise Inside) when the harmonious bits kick in, for example halfway through “Immerse”.

In this season’s WTF?? corner, I bring you Rebel Scum. They haven’t logged in for over a year, the site looks half-dead due to broken images, and they sound like a robot whose batteries are slowly dying mumbling over a porn bassline. Enjoy, though. If you can!

Of course now the MonKeyVision Song Contest is all done and dusted, I feel we’re allowed to big up some of the acts we had on the bill for that. The winning band, Harassing Anna have several side-projects, including solo singer-songwriter Bine The Peg who I’ve signed up for the Monkey Kettle Stage at the Great Linford Waterside next month. “My Mother’s Wishes” is the stand-out choon for me, loving the flute! They’re clearly a multi-talented bunch – and hope they’re having fun with their big red amp!

Another impressive sounding band from MonKeyVision were six-piece The Machinist, who feature Monkey Kettle acquaintance Tom Harv. They’re still a work in progress – MonKeyVision was their first gig – but judging by “Conformity” on their MySpace (which I think I might be right in saying was recorded by Tom on his own?) there’s plenty to come from them, it’s a breathtaking slab of proggy metal with an ice-cool solo!

And one more to check out – I feel a bit bad cos there were some technical difficulties at the start of his MonKeyVision set – is rock-tinged dance act Techno Sapien, who’s made good use already of the new MySpace song limit of 10 tracks! I think “Fields Of Silence” is my favourite, love the ravey synth sound. And talking of ravey synth sounds…

DUDEBOX TRACK OF THE SEASON

KIDS PICKED LAST – “Never Leave Me”

Okay, maybe there’s not a full version of this on their MySpace (for shame!), but the 80 seconds you do get should give you a good impression of what’s going on. Plus I bought their 4-track demo CD at MonKeyVision anyway, so I’ve got the whole thing. I dig these kids so much I even signed them up to headline the Monkey Kettle Stage on the Saturday of Waterside. I just love what the synth sound does to their particular brand of punky pop. Plus they’ve got laser beams on their guitars and they leap around all over the shop. I wish we were still young enough to leap around – my knees wouldn’t be able to cope with it. Fantastic – they make me excited about the future of music in MK!

THE PITZ: VOLUME 3 - CD Review (2004)

Reviewer: MMT

See, I don't really have a problem with Death Metal*. I don't. We used to sneak on Obituary albums when we were supposed to be listening to German tapes on headphones at school. I have mass-moshed in a circular fashion to Lawnmower Deth at the Pitz itself. I have a Cradle Of Filth album. So when "The Pitz : Volume 3" kicks off with "Forever Lost" by Cerberus, I'm not at all put out. It could be a major label Death Metal* group, if such a thing existed. The guitars are apocalyptic, there is some virtuoso soloing, doom-laded vocals. And I'm happy. I set up my new Massage Pad in my music chair and feel the vibrations course through my lumber region.

It will become apparent that I am not particularly "up" on the MK music scene. Partially this is due to money - I never have any. I'm a poet ferchrissake. Partially due to my twenties slowly winding down. But hey - I'm still cool. Our band played at Bar Central recently. I have seen Odd Man Out at least twice before, too. On both occasions I quite liked them - they plough an angular, intelligent, muscular rock furrow. I think I have previously mentioned Six By Seven in connection with 'em. "Dead Inside" doesn't rilly grab me, though. Still, they're doing well nationally, so good on 'em.

Phema do a similar thing, jagged guitars and tremulant (!) vocals then giving way to a dark instrumental bit in the middle. And again, it's not bad. I would watch 'em at a local bands night or somethink. That's the important thing - celebrating local talent. And that's what The Pitz has always been good at. I challenge you to name another place in MK which has managed it so well for so consistently long. That's the important thing.

Note also how I neatly sidestep real incisive journalism here. Who needs it when you've got a Massage Pad? Luckily, though, I am finally grabbed properly on Track 4, "In The Market Place" by The Dead Girls. This is scuzzy and poppy, two facets appearing on this compilation for the first time, and welcome. Ten thumbs up.

Dive's "Place In The Sun" is an excitable "Bleach"-era-Nirvana clatter. And now I am nodding. The spirit of Rock still burns somewhere inside me, under the vodka-blurred beast I have become. Kurt would be proud. I hope.

"Dark Matter" by Mikaw Barish is the best thing on the compilation so far, perhaps the best thing on it all, I realise after several listens. I'm a sucker for lyrics anyway, and these are notably good in comparison. The singer has a really emotional edge in his voice, and trying to come up with a genre for it (the Last Recourse of the Poor Music Journalist) I coin the phrase "Darkrock". Seek out and enjoy.

Of course, being mostly ignorant about the MK music scene, I'm blind to some of the subtle differences between some of the bands. I dunno who came first, who stole who's bass player, etc. But I got a free copy of the CD, the least I can do is review it. And it does rock.

Fell Silent open up the drawer marked "Death Metal"* again, but at least have the good grace to freshen things up a bit with a really catchy chorus with harmonies and everything. Then everything gets even better with a slow mid-section which includes a cool talky bit. I am genuinely enjoying this. "Betray". Sweet.

The half-way point of the compilation lowers the volume a little again, Lupa's "Less Than, Lately" is circling, airy rock. It sounds urgent, earnest, punchy. It's good. It's also the best song title on the CD, incidentally. I find these things important.

I have seen Dark Hadou live a couple of times as well, at last year's Band Blitz. They are better live, the recording is a little muddy on "Welfare & Friends", not quite as atmospheric. Still, the quality of recording has come on in leaps and bounds since the early nineties when I used to buy local band tapes. All the tracks on here are noticeably well recorded. What times we live in!

"Something Like Winter" by Modulator starts off all Gothy, which is promising. Not much else happens for a while, but then there's yet another good midsection which speeds up, brings in distortion, riffs around and even becomes a bit dancy. Where have all these middle sections come from? Nice.

Fidjit are a lot more polished musically than many of the other bands on here, "2X2" is quite straightforward Funk Rock, which veers almost into Mansun territory at times, but definitely makes me feel groovy. Neck movements. And not just because of my Massage Pad. Skips into a rappy bit near the end.

There's a noise like a train at the start of "13th Saint" by Nomme Louis. I wonder how they did that? The rest is typically burly Death Metal* fare, complete with vomiting vocals. It's all starting to get a bit much. At least this is short.

And by a minute into "Exhumed Justice" by Seethe, I am starting to yearn for some airy keyboards, or some t.A.T.u.. As I have already whined, I do like Death Metal*, I do, but this bit of the CD is starting to feel a bit like eating a very dry cake. With lots of rusty nuts, bolts, washers etc. in it.

I guess that's my only criticism of the CD, and even that's not a very big one. It skews too far towards sweaty men playing Harsh Metal, but that's only a reflection of what The Kids want to see at The Pitz, I guess. I would like to have heard a few more different voices, a few more shades of grey or even colour amongst the grimy black, and where are the girls? Whence are the 75% Lips of 2004? Aah, maybe I am getting old. Still, my lower back feels very refreshed.

Hold up though - here are Graveltrap, and suddenly it's a cheerful ska-punk knees up! That's better! Smiling faces and sweaty hugs all round! The central riff is almost folky, but still works. This is the sound of a confident band at ease with themselves and their surroundings. Excellent.

Tarpot would seem to be engaging in that time-honoured practice of doing almost Comedy Death Metal*! Starting with what sounds like a Muppet singing the lyrics before the music kicks in, "Berzerker" spins close to a Satanic version of the Reeves Club Style. Still, I like it! The best bit is the sample at the very end.

The CD closes with a feature I like, a classic track from a Pitz Band of yesteryear, a nice concession to those of us who fought in the Metal Wars of the Nineties. This CD highlights Rat Salad, "Get Out" sounds a little tame after just having experienced Seethe and Tarpot, but draws a line through history from then to now.

So it's worth buying, espeshly if you're a denizen of the Pitz, and you like your guitars grindy, your bass apocalyptic and your vocals gutteral. And even if you don't, there's enough here even to entertain the most jaded of late twentysomething music fans. And here's to the Pitz for compiling it. Long may they continue.

* If it's even still called Death Metal. Sucks to you if it's not. I know what I mean, daddio.