“My job consists of basically masking my contempt...” 20th March 2003

CRASH LANDING The Edge gets the lowdown on Britain’s sickest popstars, Black Box Recorder

Kinesis... The Kills... Scarlet Soho... Brick Awards Results... Har Mar Superstar 20th March 2003 EDITORIAL Oh dear - it looks like the dem- THE EDGE ocratic process has been hijacked yet again, and no I’m not talking about the recent Student Union elections which I have no doubt were run in an entirely fair, uncorrupt and TOP unbiased manner. At least, that’s what I’ve been told to say by my lawyers. No, I am referring of course to the 10 annual Edge Brick Awards. Of NEWS with EDGE 3am Girl Rich Heap ANSWERS TO course The Edge did receive Porcelain-faced bassist he’s America’s lapdog, just like and roll record ever made.” Jack thousands upon thousands of HILLARY WOODS has left JJ72, everyone else... White has always refused to com- QUESTIONS IN votes for your favourite bands, which kind of means that no-one And on that subject, EMILY EAVIS ment on the spat that started SONG TITLES will be that interested in them (daughter of Glastonbury dictator when Adams covered White’s singers, films and all the rest of 1. WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG it, it turns out that all of them anymore. Apparently her decision and beard-no-moustache wearer songs, changing some of the lyr- had been filled in by young to quit was something to do with Michael) has put on a ‘One Big No’ ics, and, when Jack complained, BAD WOLF? - Unknown Mainly small mammals and Rich’s team of electoral cam- MARK GREANEY not being inter- protest gig, against the forthcom- called him “a little girl.” Ooooh... birds, both of which are second- paigners - allowing that band ested in girls or any input from ing war (oh come on, like it’s not it’s like Liam and Robbie all over ary food sources for both the of dubious quality (I refer of anyone else. Or did I just make going to happen...) Acts at the again. course to Queens of the Stone that up? Shepherds Bush Empire on 15th grey and the red wolf. Age) to be catapulted to the March included (well, if it hap- SHAVO ODADJIAN, bassist with lead in more than one impor- On less important news, pened... this went to press before SYSTEM OF A DOWN, is filing a 2. WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? - TONY BLAIR attempted to con- the actual event) PAUL WELLER, lawsuit against a security compa- tant award race. I guess the Baha Men only recompense is that my vince the younger generations, GARBAGE, FRAN HEALY, ny who, apparently, assaulted him Whoever had the key to the lawyers now inform me that it via MTV, that war in Iraq is justi- EVAN DANDO, BETH ORTON, during a SLIPKNOT gig on, err, kennel when they went missing. would be entirely legal to fied. The hour long debate show, FAITHLESS , 20th October 2001. God, that’s smash their heads in with a Is War The Answer?, was shown on MARK THOMAS,IAN MCCULLOCH ages ago. Can’t be bothered going large brick as long as it has an 6th April, where he took ques- and possibly others. But where into any more detail. After 3. Edge logo printed on the side. tions from a representative sam- are Blur? And Massive Attack? I all,being 28 and in a rock band, he Oh well, I guess it could have ple of 40 18-24 worlds. He looked mean, they’re been in the news a should be able to look after him- been worse - if you’d all both- like an arse, however, when he lot campaigning against the war. self. Not like the fan at Norwegian ered to vote we might have had to give vague answers to the Now, I’m not saying they’re hypo- death metal band MAYHEM’s gig, had Toploader winning or questions that people actually crites... I’m just stating a fact...after who had his head fractured by a something. wanted to ask (a.k.a. “Is the war for all, even white rap idiots flying sheep skull. PER KRISTIAN Just in case anyone’s interest- oil?”, “Will you go to war without a THE BEASTIE BOYS released an HAGEN, 25, was struck by the fly- ed (which I am coming to seri- second UN resolution?”, “What are anti-war song, In A World Gone ing animal skull after MANIAC (the ously doubt) my vote for best the moral implications of all the Mad, through their official web- lead singer... probably not his real live act of the year goes to civilian tragedies?”, “What will the site. name) carved up a sheep and the Blair and Blunkett for their Iraqi regime be replaced with?” head just flew off. The incident entirely miscalculated jam ses- etc.) Whether this has actually On lighter news, RYAN ADAMS has been called unfortunate and sion at that primary school. changed anyone’s opinions or, has ended his feud with the injured fan has been prom- Oh well,‘til next time crucially, given Blair any credibili- THE WHITE STRIPES by saying that ised a ticket to a forthcoming Tim ty amongst ‘the kids’ is sketchy... The Stripes’ forthcoming album, Mayhem gig. Nice. actually, it’s not. They still think Elephant, “may be the best rock THE EDGE TEAM

Editor: Tim Houghton Assistant Editor: Rich Heap Film: Nina Dubravec COMPETITION Dance: Rich Madgwick As conclusively proved by The Edge, wins. our announcement of this year’s Brick Awards Poll, The Edge is every- With: Alex Mattinson, Rob body’s favourite music mag. Barbour, Chloe Williams, Kerry However, just to show that Patterson, Joe Wiggins, here at The Edge we aren’t afraid to Jonathan Curtis-Brignell, Luke let someone else have a try at this Crisell, James Graham, Antony whole music journalism lark, we’re Nicholls, Mike Cole, Russell gonna help brand new music maga- Wood, Ian Brewer, Felicity Hull, zine ‘BANG’ on their way by giving Lucinda Wilkinson, Phil Hoile, away One Year’s Free Subscription to one lucky Edge Max McGee, Ricky Spaven, reader, (not to mention the associat- Purdy Wickham, Sarah Pearce, ed free publicity in the hallowed Johnnie Macson, Bridie Edge pages.). We also have five Bang Ashton, Jake Smokcum, Ben goody bags to give away to runners Bratchell up. All you have to do to stand a chance of winning is complete the following sentence in no more than The Edge 25 words... S.U.S.U I LOVE CRAIG DAVID BECAUSE... Highfield Southampton Most original entry, as voted for by S017 1BJ PA G E 2 20th March 2003 THE BIG GIG GUIDE THE SOUTH COAST MAY NOT BE GREAT, BUT IT’S NOT THE CULTURAL WASTELAND THAT EVERYONE THINKS...

Wed 26th Mar - Pitchshifter @ belong after 2001’s inexplicable Wed 9th Apr - Burning Brides @ Tue 29th Apr - Less Than Jake @ Wed 7th May - Melanie C @ S.U.S.U. success. Twunts. Joiners Southampton Guildhall Southampton Guildhall Mon 31st Apr - The Faint @ Queens Of The Stone Age like Apparently she’s the most suc- Thu 27th Mar - Liberty X @ Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms them. Weds 30th Apr - The Soledad cessful former Spice Girl and Portsmouth Guildhall Simply fantastic. Go. Go. Go. Mon 14th Apr - The Bandits @ Brothers @ Joiners she’s still crap. Well, at least she’s The losers from Popstars or one Joiners One of Phil Datsun’s favourite the main one against a reunion of those sort of Pete Waterman Tues 1st Apr - Sugababes @ Coral-esque quirksome pot-influ- bands. He advised me to go and tour so it can’t be all bad. peddling ITV shows for talent- Southampton Guildhall enced Scouse indie. Try it, you see them, and he’d advise you the less egocentric chancers. I’ve been told they’re quite big so might like it. same. But he hasn’t spoken to Sun 11th May - The Raveonettes put on your bright white clothes you. And I’ve met him. Please for- @ Portsmout Wedgewood Fri 28th Mar - Finch @ and fake gold jewellery and get Mon 14th Apr - The Rapture @ give my smugness Rooms Portsmouth Pyramids some R ‘n’ B. Portmsouth Wedgewood Rooms Sat 3rd May - The Wildhearts @ It’s really beginning to piss me My CLOSE (‘slose’ was a mistake, It was meant to be at the Joiners, Portsmouth Pyramids off that The Wedgewood Rooms so shoot me pedants) personal Wed 2nd Apr - The 22-20s but moved. Boycott it on princi- is getting all of the good bands friend Rob Barbour recom- @ Joiners ple. Sun 4th May - Nada Surf @ doing the rounds on the toilet mends them highly. Blues for the modern era. And Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms circuit (except The 22-20s and good. You really should see them Wed 16th Apr - The Basement @ Nice, but a bit too boring for my The Soledad Brothers) and it Sun 30th Mar - Beth Orton + (well, so I’ve been told.) Joiners hardcore rockin’ ass. If you like should really annoy you too. I’m Brendan Benson @ Portsmouth melodic indie, then you could going to go and sulk now. Guildhall Wed 2nd Apr - Daniel Bedingfield Thurs 17th Apr - The Warlocks @ well love ‘em. Okay, so Beth Orton is boring, @ Southampton Guildhall Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms Mon 12th May - Violent Delight but Brendan Benson is a Jack Professional testicleless tosser Overrated and boring... Tues 6th May - Hell Is For Heroes @ @ Joiners White favourite, which may makes it big with some rubbish Portsmouth Pyramids This isn’t enough to placate me. mean nowt to you but is, in fact, pseudo urban songs. Sat 19th Apr - Placebo @ Emo, with a great live show. And I’m still in a strop... a good thing. Southampton Guildhall nice guys as well. Actually, me and Wed 2nd Apr - The Blockheads @ I don’t like Placebo. I have never them have a mutual acquaintance Mon 9th Jun - Tony Hadley @ Sun 30th Mar - Wheatus @ The Brook liked Placebo. I will never like in an Ealing based Armenian clas- Southampton Guildhall Portmsouth Wedgewood Placebo. There are always anti- sical pianist. And that’s not even He’s on ‘Reborn In The USA’ Rooms Mon 7th Apr - My Deaf Audio @ Placebo jokes in The Edge and I’ve an elaborate lie. It’s the truth I tells which means he’s a washout Whiny voiced ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ Joiners run out now... ya. but people’ll see what a nice peddlers are near where they guy he is and feel sorry and buy Do you know how much we have to write for each issue? Well, if you do, then you should expect some mistakes. So check details with venues. Okay?

PA G E 3 20th March 2003 SINGLES ALBUMS HAR MAR SUPERSTAR - One for the laydeez 2/10 RH ASIAN DUB FOUNDATION Enemy of the Enemy (Labels)

If you Rage Against the Machine fans aren’t having thine political souls satisfied by the all- new Chris Cornell/Zach De la Rocha replacement, then why not FC/KAHUNA Taking inspiration from both try something a little different? As Hayling Portishead and Radiohead's Kid an avid fan of all things rock, I was (Skint Records) A, Hayling is a tune that tempts dubious I was going to like this the listener into the summer new release from ADF, a British- What with weeks filled with mentality of carelessness and Asian-jungle-ragga-band doing the anticipation of war, a little lures you into the slumber of jump-up dancehall Bollywood peace wouldn't go amiss. This sheer relaxation. Perhaps some- punk. But my mate’s sister is mar- track, thank God, provides a one should recommend this to ried to one of the MC’s so I thought welcome time-out from the the American government. I’d give him a chance. I was pleas- aggression that's consuming 8/10 antly disrupted from my comfort- the media at the moment. CW able world of rock, and hurled into another galaxy of diverse CRADLE OF FILTH BLUR sound…. Riddled with hectoring Babylon AD Out Of Time politics, this album unreservedly (Epic) (EMI Records) covers many musical genres, which is immediately appealing Described as the antithesis So, here we are. Coxon’s left, HAR MAR SUPERSTAR 8/10 to any album. There are the ortho- of the nu-metal bollox that just Fatboy’s in, Blur are back. And, You Can Feel Me RH dox rap tunes like Blowback and won't f**king die, Dani Filth pro- well…it begins so promisingly. (b-unique) THE MOLDY PEACHES Two Face, which would give vides light entertainment with Jazzy bass and percussion are Unreleased Cutz and Live Jamz Eminem a run for his money. this track in the form of random well deployed by the lads from On SM:TV a few weeks ago I (Rough Trade) Dance tunes that make your body noises resembling a goblin Essex, but the vocal line eventu- saw a feature whereby children want to move and join the crowd overdosing on speed. To be ally trails off into mediocrity. got their elder and slightly portly For a band whose distortion like 19 Rebellious (a tune that tells honest, all COF songs sound the And then some. The fact that (to put it nicely) elder male rela- fest album sounded like it was the true story of inhumane prison same to me, and I swear they've they think they can gloss over a tives to dress up in their under- recorded through a wall (an conditions and prisoner’s upris- nicked the backing track from predominantly dull tune with wear and humiliate themselves album, it must be said, that I like), ing…….in Portuguese…) There the haunted house ride at Alton flashy Spanish guitar and shod- under the auspices of being a it’s hard to see exactly how a dou- are stoned, chilled, rhythmical Towers. Still better than Craig dy electro-sampling is disap- wrestling related competition. ble album of whatever crap they masterpieces like Basta, and Dhol- David tho. pointing. Well, essentially, that’s Har Mar can scrape together, including Rinse, the single from the album 5/10 5/10 Superstar’s stage show and so it ansaphone messages, will appeal, which seems to include all of the CW JM would seem natural that You Can especially when most of it is traits mentioned above;. plenty of THE D4 Feel Me has a slight emphasis on screamed, unlistenably distorted mind-twisting electro bhangra Ladies Man HOT HOT HEAT sex. Actually, it’s all about sex, or both. This is brain bleedingly here to fathom and delight even (Flying Nun) Bandages with Har Mar admitting on We grating and, uncomfortable in the the most musically closed minds. (Sub Pop) Could Be Heavy that "I can’t con- extreme, devoid of the childish 1000 Mirrors is most definitely the The D4 release their latest trol these dirty thoughts that are charm that has kept them afloat highlight of the album. It seems offering proving that rock and If The Coral began to rock and running through my head." No thus far. There are a few good to be one of those rare tracks that roll is well and truly alive in New got a pubescent Jack White to s**t; on the title track he knobs a moments over the 55 tracks (if you actually want to listen to Zealand. As singles go it’s pretty sing over an organ reinvention woman who, shock, already has a you throw enough s**t etc.), like properly. Blessed with Sinead good, even if it does sound of Lump then it would sound boyfriend, whereas on No Chorus the acoustic version of Steak For O’Connor’s voice this beautiful uncannily like Robbie William’s like Bandages, a feelgood record he’s busily knobbing a woman on Chicken or the hilariously butch- trip hop tune deserves a top ten Man Machine... that irritates quickly. the mixing desk before he has to ered cover of Big Girls Don’t Cry, and, if they don’t release it as a 7/10 6/10 rush home to knob his masturbat- but all of the best lyrics can be single, then I will. A very strong AN RH ing girlfriend and, on the way, found on their eponymous 2001 album, which deserves a bigger FINCH ZWAN knob a policewoman. On Power offering. In fact, the only thing public profile. Hmmmm…I won- Letters To You Honestly Lunch he’s knobbing a woman on that’s amazing about this is how der what would happen if Chris (Drive-thru records) (Wea) her lunch break, on One Dirty such an apparently charmingly Cornell paired up with Asian Dub Minute he’s just got so many puerile bunch can be quite so Foundation? To produce formulaic modern Honestly is an uninspiring women to knob and so little time, cynically corporate. It just shows metal music these days can be ‘nice’, melodic song probably on EZ Pass he’s knobbing women that, no matter how D.I.Y. a band 8/10 crushing. To employ the basic definable as ‘arena psychedelia’. in Soho but, crucially, for the appears, they’re all just cunningly BA elements of metal in a modern Zwan, the eclectic super group Catholics, he takes the level up on disguised businessmen/women fashion can be enhancing. Finch fronted by Billy Corgan and fea- Let’s Get This Party Kickin’ where without the nous or energy to THE DURUTTI COLUMN have seemingly accomplished turing ex-Smashing Pumkins, he’s "makin’ babies." But what give anyone the new songs that Someone Else’ Party the latter here. The typically Slint, Skunk and A Perfect Circle does all that prove? Well, that he’s they actually want, lazy bastards. (Artful) heavy percussion, vocal scream- members., have been described an unhealthy mixture of Peaches And after all the hard work I’ve ing (pleasingly restrained) and as a happy Smashing Pumpkins. and Ron Jeremy for a start but, done defending them to cynical What an interesting album. crunching guitar are all present. Unfortunately they are actually crucially, his cheap, simple and friends, it’s also personally embar- Sounding like a chilled out ver- And what’s more, it’s done damn a pretty poor and a tame addictive minimalist electro beats rassing that I can’t even be arsed sion of the stone Roses and Ian well. Smashing Pumpkins, or even a make this album surprisingly making up a redeeming quality as Brown with a Spanish twist. Vinni 8/10 lame Smashing Pumpkins. good and as catchy as syphilis. I frantically swim through this Reilly has been going for years JM 5/10 relentless river of w**k. and is one of the lesser known art- ists who featured on the infamous PA G E 4 20th March 2003 ALBUMS Factory Records label. There is a melancholic feeling to the whole record, unsurprisingly so, as his inspiration came form the period of time when his mother fell ill and later died. The whole album is in fact dedicated to his mother and there are many tributes to her including the haunting Requiem mer) or rehashing tried and test- For My Mother. Reilly combines Or Else!ed formulas (like the latter), an incredible range of musical Autechre have constantly styles on this album from the dub mutated and evolved to be one like beats and wailing vocals on step ahead of the game. Woman to the operatic sound of Autechre BUY THIS... Ambient stylings gave way to Rebekah Del Rio’s vocals on Draft 7.30 undanceable beat thrashings Spanish Lament. The vocals of (Warp) which conceeded to playful Reilly form a subtle backdrop to electronica which was super- the music but his lyrics are often Despite being almost seded by dense synth ‘n’ beats indistinguishable and get lost in impenetrable to the average gunfire. the other sounds. This is a shame human ear, there can be little ‘Draft 7.30’, Autechre’s because when you can under- doubt that Autechre’s 2001 seventh full length album picks stand what his singing, the lyrics album ‘Confield’ ranks as one of up the loose thread left by are incredibly poetic and poign- the most important electronic ‘Confield’ and runs in about fifty ant "I don’t believe in anything, recordings since Caberet directions simultaneously. but I pray for a friend". There are Voltaire railed against the fabric Probably the most important of some incredible tracks on this of Thatcherite Britain with their these is the advances (or regres- album including Somewhere with seminal Eighties album Red Autechres Rob Brown and Sean Booth sion, depending on how you its warbling bass line and Paul Mecca. poed electro-beats, ‘Draft 7.30’ of hyperspeed drum loops, but look at it) that the album makes Simon esc steel guitars. This Throughout their sets out its stall early on. Whereas the focus is more on the transmu- towards listenability . Decidedly album is a definite grower and the career, Sheffield duo Autechre labelmate duo Boards of Canada tation of the percussive qualities easier on the ear than ‘Confield’, more I listen the more I like it. have constantly pushed at the legitimately concern themselves than on the notes themselves. ‘Draft 7.30’ gives itself more boundaries and bettered them- with the powers of melody, Occasionally, like a ray of light do room to manouvre than its pre- 8/10 selves rather than being con- Autechre prefer to explore the the synths take centre stage, but decessor - it’s the hovering AN tent to sit back on former glo- dark netherworlds of rhythm and/ then only briefly before the Apache helicopter to Confield’s ries. With their 1993 debut or lack of it, although the two swarming clouds of pulsing beats raging Tornado. CLEARLAKE album ‘Incunabula’ they threw states appear to seamlessly col- subsume them once more. Beginning with the Cedars in their lot with other minimal lide. Other (unpronounceable) It has to be said that, like echoing industrial clanging of (Domino) techno experimenters B12 or tracks such as ‘6ie.cr’ and ‘P.:Ntil’ it’s forerunners, ‘Draft 7.30’ is rare- ‘Xylin Room’, complemented by the Black Dog. But rather than seem to carve out imaginings of ly a comfortable listen, but, once a liberal smattering of un-tem- Clearlake are very much a simply fading away (like the for- melody through the pitchshifting it takes hold it’s a difficult poison homegrown talent. Lead singer Jason Pegg couldn’t sound more relentlessly, and unfortunately Shadow feel at points as well, with hair metal horse s**t. show and I hate you but I love you endearingly English if his name nothing on this album gives you sample laden sound collages such but I hate you, y’know? Anyway, actually was Union Jack and he the impression that the band are as on Baby Elephant Rock-A-Bye I’d say that’s fairly accurate. I’m going to go out and record slept wrapped in our nation’s flag really capable of going some- which features a war-time croon- and album and I don’t care what outside the gates of Buckingham where different and interesting ing style vocal sample, or Sonnet 4/10 you say because I’m not a kid any- Palace clasping his Golden Jubilee with their music. A disappointing No.3 (Like A Duck)s mix of RH more. I’m, like, a teenager and I commemorative mug for people album, then, but one that sug- Shakespearian sonnet and physi- MC HONKY should be allowed to do what I to throw change in. gests that if Clearlake try a little cal fitness training instruction. I Am The Messiah want, y’know. Like rip off guitar Musically, too, the band play a harder to actually make a catchy The album does have a great light (b-unique) work from just about everywhere kind of squalid indie-rock that I tune, they are well-equipped to and uplifting feel to it though and record a whiny voiced bub- imagine is quite similar to what a succeed in the future. overall it’s not outstanding and MC Honky is an interesting blegum punk album and get big collaboration between Morrissey, not especially new or interesting. man; you are led to believe. He off the back of saying that I don’t Idlewild and The Coral at their 5/10 If you like the Eels cheery funky started out as a janitor at Capitol care about anything and pretend most dour might sound like. I’m AM blues, or Beck’s Midnite Vultures studios in 1959, so the story goes, I’ve got an attitude despite crying not entirely convinced by this then you might be interested, but working up to become second my eyes out when I’ve got a par- album to be honest with you. I get KELLY OSBOURNE not surprised. engineer in the late sixties but ticularly bad hangover and when the awful feeling that the more- Shut Up soon after quit the industry to you stop me from going to the English-than-English-itself (Epic) 6/10 concentrate on his other main NME awards so there. And it impression this band projects is Forsooth, I must get PH interest: pottery. Eighties elec- doesn’t matter to me that my more than a little contrived, and into character: tronic music inspired him to start album sounds like I recorded it on songs like Just Off The Coast DANNII MINOGUE producing again though and now while taking a particularly large and I’d Like To Hurt You it is diffi- I hate you and I’m not going to Neon Nights he has perfected his self-dubbed dump (possible over Avril Lavigne) cult to distinguish where exactly it do what you say because I’m a (London Records) "self-help rock" and released his because I’m so cool and I don’t is that the band has tried to vary teenager and that’s my job and I first album. It could be a big joke care what anyone else says so f**k their sound. Too much on this want to go out and drive a car and Neon Nights? Isn’t that the though and is probably all done you. And y’know why? ‘Cos I’m a album crawls along happily snort ants and stay out late with name of a porn film? Oh come on. by "E" from the Eels, who stars on spoilt little talentless brat who’s enough, but like a pensioner driv- my friends and I don’t care what it must be. Anyway, poppy 80s and produces the album. All that riding this fame thing for as far as ing a three-wheeler, never really you say because you’re so out of electro with orgasmic moans over aside, I Am The Messiah is not a it, and my image as a teenage gets out of second gear. Dull touch and you don’t want me to the top is very much in keeping bad album though its blend of Courtney Love, will take me so attempts at sounding mysterious have any fun and you’re ruining with the general atmosphere, as funky rock over hip-hop beats there. And it’ll sell loads anyway fail where the pulsing strings my life and you’re so embarrass- are the numerous gratuitous pic- and breakbeats is not new. It because I’m on TV and I swear at begin to be plucked and the ing biting the heads of animals tures of Kylie’s younger sister, with often sounds like disco-Beck and my parents. After all, it’s done moaning guitars start to grate and showing me up on our TV her scary female Tom Jones-esque has a very Mr Scruff or lighter DJ wonders for my Dad’s over-rated

PA G E 5 20th March 2003 ALBUMS THE HIDDEN CAMERAS themselves to be entirely compe- for the Matador label. THE HIDDEN CAMERAS The Smell Of Our Own tent at writing beautiful expan- Of most interest on this (Rough Trade) sive music that actually means CD is the transition between something. Or perhaps the point Lesser's slacker rock attempts There are large sections of of Ooberman is that things don’t (occasionally in association with society who would respond to have to mean anything. I mean, members of early nineties bands The Hidden Cameras with hostili- any band who can get the word such as A Minor Forest) and his ty, revulsion, or laughter purely ‘Petrunko’ in the album title has current beat crunching persona. because of their sexual persua- got to have a sense of humour, The first of his forays into sion (watch out homophobes, hasn’t it? Anyway, this album is as electronica, Excommunicate the they’re gay… and they sing about close as you can come to writing a Cult of the Live Band, is included it… shocking I know) but, in your film soundtrack without actually here and is self described in the humble author’s opinion, these writing one, with orchestral opus- liner notes as "Not for the faint of large sections of society can piss es and strangely endearing medi- heart or anyone who expects real off because the plain fact is that aeval-sounding acoustic balladry jungle". The Smell Of Our Own is a beauti- lulling the listener into a state of Other highlights include ful, amazing and inspirational ethereal calm. Dreams In The Air is "Welcome to the American record that will captivate anyone a touching male-female duet over Experience" featuring a fantastic with its undeniable beauty. But, barely audible guitar and string glitchcore track provocatively oh my God, they’ve got a song really, really interesting. ‘Don’t be you like that sort of thing, and accompaniment, whilst on tracks titled "Markus Popp Can Kiss My called The Man That I Am With My scared, motherf****r’ they chant, some of what is here is extraordi- like Where Did I Go Wrong and Redneck Ass", referring to Man that’s about, like, homosexu- but it’s too late for warnings. Over narily beautiful, but on first listen Hands That Gets Germany's legendary CD skipper. al sex. So? It’s the 21st Century the next ten songs, A.R.E. Weapons you can’t help but get the feeling Burnt a more upbeat Ooberman Freesound, a cassete made in and, in any case, its lyrical celebra- grab you by whatever hair is left that NAM has come and gone. serenade us with tales of broken 1999, allegedly in collaboration tion of love, whether homosexual, on your head after you’ve torn it Album opener and first single The dreams and lost love. What with with a Japanese con-artist is heterosexual or whatever, is per- out, and drag you kicking and Final Arrears is good solid jingly- the rise of bands like Grandaddy another of the better offerings. fectly set off by some amazing screaming into their world of jangly guitar pop complete with a and The Polyphonic Spree it’s This CD isn't so much a harp work and understated vio- screw-ups, drugs and dirty danc- crazy breakdown bit towards the hard to be out-weirded these 'Best of' as a 'Complete Works of' lins. The chances are that, by then, ing. F**k You Pay Me sleazes along end, and at this point everything days, but I challenge any band to but instead of being a ridiculously any listener will have been drawn on a drum and bass-style beat is looking peachy. Four songs come up with a stranger (and over-priced box set the MP3 for- into this record. Drawn in by the with some ridiculously sleazy later, and MHS are viciously indeed better) version of an mat keeps the price down. If soft rain-like quality of Golden synths going on in the back- molesting the corpse of a Indian dance than SnakeDance you’re an aficionado of Lesser, Streams, or the joyous echoes in ground, and reminds us that Starsailor B-side on Asylum. We which, wait for it, combines AC/ Matmos, Kid 606 and their ilk you Shame, or the bird song on Boys ‘money makes the world go then get early nineties rock on DC guitars with Beatles-esque could do worse than spend 15 Of Melody, or any of this album’s round’. Amongst some brilliantly Live Like The Automatics, David strings and a sort of quid on this - assuming you have other evocative facets. It’s joy titled songs (Black Mercedes, Gray on the next one, political Whirling Dervish, street-market in the means to play it, that is. inspiring like listening to The Street Gang, Strange Dust) the comment over a stolen Radiohead Delhi-type musical adventure that Polyphonic Spree, on Prozac, post one that really stands out is drum beat and horribly clichéd is as hilariously tongue in cheek as MP3/10 coitus. In summer. Crucially, Headbanger Face - pure white chord sequences on the next, it is brilliantly clever. Hey Petrunko TH though, it isn’t as grand as the noise and barely audible vocals, a then… is an incredible journey that takes mighty ‘Spree, instead favouring kind of Pete Libertine cokehead Oh, what’s the use? This album in numerous rock, classical and CALEXICO subtlety and an easy, natural mumble, most is sapping me of the ability to world influences on the way, and Feast of Wire beauty that renders categorisa- likely recorded in the cellar of a write and I can’t even be bothered creates a musical tapestry so com- (City Slang) tion of the authors’ sexual prefer- Soho strip club surrounded by to criticise it any more. Here’s the plex, layered and interesting that ences obsolete. And there’s a song illegal gambling and Lock Stock- run-down. Lyrically, this album you cannot fail to be charmed. Calexico are that rare item, a side called Ban Marriage too. Spec… style gangster types. This is a dirty, discusses modern life and the way More importantly, however, the project that has achieved greater tacular. dirty album. Filthy, even, but it conflicts with Mr. MHS’s desires album challenges its listeners fame and recognition than it’s believe me when I say that this is for a more peaceful, archaic life- without isolating or patronising mother ship. While Giant Sand 8/10 a good thing when faced with the style, probably somewhere in them, and the result is easily a and its chief songwriter Howe RH prospect of next having to review Yorkshire where everything has a contender for best album of the Gelb remain largely overlooked the new Matchbox 20 album. golden brown tint and people year so far. (although that is beginning to A.R.E. WEAPONS Listen to this for inspiration if you make bread. Musically, this album change) Joey Burns and John A.R.E. Weapons are an aspiring heroin addict and/ is 70% trumpets and acoustic gui- 9/10 Convertino, the rhythm section (Rough Trade) or alcoholic, but tars, 20% horribly clichéd lyrics AM from that band have achieved not if you are recovering from said and 10% weirdy much greater success with this Already home to The Libertines addictions, because A.R.E. noises and recorded radio weath- Lesser mariachi flavoured brand of musi- and The Strokes, Rough Trade has Weapons will probably screw you er reports. Many people will like LS-MP3CD-R cianship. added yet another string to its up more than you were before. this album, and in places it can be (Tigerbeat6) Feast of Wire, Calexico’s bow with hotly tipped sample- endearing and even beautiful, but fourth full length album falls rock mentalists A.R.E. Weapons, 7/10 there is too much filler here for my Clocking in at a whopping 12 somewhere between 2000’s Hot and with this their debut album AM taste. Sorry. hours this single MP3 CD contains Rail and their best record to date they look set to hit the music-lov- just under 300 tracks charting the The Black Light. While it avoids ing public where it hurts. Half the MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY 4/10 history of Bay-Area electronics some of the more obvious pitfalls songs on this album will not only Us AM abuser J. Lesser. Arranged into 18 of Hot Rail, which although a make your ears bleed, they will (Blanco y Negro) vaguely chronological directories, pleasant listen was undeniably tear you apart and drain every OOBERMAN with titles ranging from the likes samey, it doesn’t quite live up to other body fluid from what Mull Historical Society are Hey Petrunko of the epiphetic "Ballad_to_ the eclecticism and bloody-mind- is left of your body. Opener Don’t essentially comprised of one man (Rotodisc) those_lost_in_wars" to the mun- ed originality of The Black Light. Be Scared starts off innocently and his band, a sort of wistful, dane "Unreleased_94-01", the CD While the longest song enough, all swinging synths and wandering minstrel type of bloke Ooberman have the ability to covers the entire Lesser story from on the album, ‘Black Heart’ distills pounding beats, but the minute with acoustic guitar slung over his change their musical direction ugly cassette deck lo-fi recordings and refines Calexico’s coveted the chorus kicks in and the grind- back and a copy of the ‘Doe-Eyed faster than a post-OK Computer through to the grinding IDM- spaghetti-western style approach, ing guitars set about their work, Pop For Beginners’ handbook in Radiohead, and it’s to their credit destroying noise thrashes that Some of the shorter songs pack a you know things are about to get his back pocket. Fair enough if that on Hey Petrunko they show characterise his more recent work greater punch, however, particu- PA G E 6 20th March 2003

IBRICK KNOW IT’S BEEN TENSE BUT NOW WE CAN EXCLUSIVELY AWARD REVEAL THE RESULTS OF THE AWARD CEREMONY THAT LITERALLYWINNERS NO-ONE COULD CARE LESS ABOUT, APPARENTLY (VOTER APATHY AND ALL). TO MAINTAIN THE ILLUSION OF IMPORTANCE, THOUGH, WE’LL JUST SAY THAT WE’VE BEEN UP FOR THREE WEEKS SOLID COUNTING THE VOTES THAT HAVE BEEN ARRIVING BY THE SKIPLOAD EVERY DAY. WHICH IS JUST ONE BIG HUGE LIE. OH WELL... Queens Of The Stone us the privilege of calling our- selves “your award-winning Edge” Age - Songs For The because I think we deserve it god- Deaf damit. And we’re never going to get entered for any sort of mean- ingful award (despite dicking on BEST SINGLE every other uni newspaper’s music section... ) so this will just Yeah Yeah Yeah’s - have to do. Master EP BEST MALE BEST BAND WE’VE IGNORED Henry VIII Tony Blackburn I’ve always been a big fan of the BEST BAND He won some TV programme Tudors, but let’s look at the evi- about living in the jungle, really < no winner > dence. (1) He had six wives and (2) We have not completely ignored near a really big hotel, and with changed the system of organised any good bands and so this sec- Queens Of The Stone loads of celebrity luxuries but, for religion forever just to suit his tion is rendered obsolete. If you pretending to rough it and bla- own means. And (3) he was a lardy Age have any strong opinions about tantly wearing a wig, he deserves bastard. And (4) a ginger (err, For the very fact that they are one our content then feel free to send okay, scrap that one, but he must of the biggest and best bands in something. us some Hate Mail, if only so we have been brave to attempt to the world and still played in our can slag you off and prove, once popularise ginger facial hair). humble city is surely Brick-worthy and for all, that we’re always right. enough. And also the fact that BEST SOUTHAMPTON Respect. Songs For The Deaf was the best VENUE album of last year... BEST EDGE TEAM MEMBER BEST-IALITY The Joiner’s Arms Jack White Well, to be honest, where else is Okay, so this is my own personal there? It’s just a shame that so choice and, even though he isn’t a many bands decide that solo artist per se, he’s done so Portsmouth is where it’s at. They much for rock over the last couple don’t know what they’re missing of years and has done it his own out on. way that you can’t help respect him. Although you’ll all probably disagree but I couldn’t care less. BEST FILM ?

BEST NEW BAND BEST FEMALE City Of God Joe ‘The The Eighties Matchbox BEST TV PROGRAMME Enigma’ Wiggins B-Line Disaster We haven’t seen him and the Craig David Not just because one of them, Blind Date chances are that neither have you, If only because he sounds like Daniel Bedingfield savaging a Sym Gharial, went to my old If only because the new ‘Ditch Or as he’s currently in hiding from sheep while listening to Stevie school, or because one of them, Date’ theory has worked wonders the extremist wing of the Craig Guy McKnight, bought me a drink, for this classic piece of Saturday David fan club. We hear he’s kind Wonder. Only worse. but because they are one of the night television. Basically, if you of like Keyser Soze, only far, far most intense bands around, pick a right moose then you can scarier. released one of the best debut trade her in for the second choice IF YOU HAD ONE albums of last year, and are totally who is usually a moose too, only BULLET... psychotic. with a worse personality. Wicked. BEST HAIR-RELATED But at least you can ditch the mad FEATURE one. Saddam Hussein BEST LIVE ACT Bjork To stop this whole annoying war Tim says she’s good, and we don’t BEST MUSIC MAG Mohair Hate Mail malarkey and Iraqi suffering. want bloody Kylie to win a Brick. The Polyphonic Spree BEST ALBUM BEST BRITISH BEST DJ The Edge Okay, it was a fix, but this allows MONARCH EVER

PA G E 7 20thBLACK March 2003 BOX DECODER BLACK BOX RECORDER’S LUKE HAINES AND JOHN MOORE TALK ABOUT THEIR AS YET UNREALSISED MEGA-STARDOM with the edge terms) he struck out on a new To understand the story Banbury had been added to the “If we made a thousand ment industry as I’d originally project ‘Baader-Meinhof’, named of Black Box Recorder, you have to line-up. Neither gained control of records, we could probably sell a planned”, says Haines wryly “so I after the German terrorist group understand the story of some of any songwriting responsibilities, million if we were lucky” adds ended up playing in a bloody folk and featuring an array of tabla the minds behind it. One of these, however, as Haines retained sole Moore. group dreaming about making players and strings. The group an embittered young chap by the control over the band. Life on the “Most [musician’s] retire- noise records with a guy who produced one eponymous album name of Luke Haines, began his promoting the album took its toll ment plan consists of making six played the saw.” of disturbing dark funk, which search for fame and stardom back however, and Haines proceeded albums which sell well, but ours In the liner notes to the Haines himself ranks as one of the in 1988, when he served time as to break both his ankles by half- consists of fifty poorly selling Christy Malry album, Haines gives “great unheard albums”. guitarist in The Servants, one of a deliberately jumping off a wall to albums” Haines continues. the listener a list of his pet hates, Yet again, not content to collection of bands picked out on allow the band to claim back the Haines’ almost schizo- in keeping with the theme of the rest on his laurels, he struck out in the NME’s C-86 collection but who costs of touring on insurance. phrenic switches between proj- film. I ask why items such as yet another direction, this time never really amounted to much Whilst housebound, ects and bands is another thing ‘British Artists – Post 1988’ and with guitarist (and former Jesus more than an album that your average (Warp records video artist) ‘Chris and Mary Chain drummer) John or two steeped in Misery Guts: Luke Haines at London’s Mean Fiddler rock musician would Cunningham’ had featured. Moore, and vocalist Sarah Nixey. mediocrity. shy away from. How “I don’t want to get The resulting album ‘England In 1992, does he shift his myself into a litigious position but Made Me’, released under the determined to attention so easily I I’d been ripped off by some of the Black Box Recorder moniker, was a make it on his own, wonder? artists, that’s why they were there perfect combination of Haines’ and inspired to “Changing – I can’t get into it more than that. unrelenting bleak streak with a write his own songs names is all a bit of a Chris Cunningham and I are actu- group love of all things pop. this time round, laugh” replies ally on speaking terms again now Although Haines Haines formed his Haines “You don’t though.” returned to The Auteurs for one own trio The want to be stuck in Haines dislike, or should final album, it was BBR who were Auteurs, with then- the same band for that be disgust, for British pop to become his primary interest. girlfriend Alice 27 years or some- music is well known, but given Black Box Recorder’s 2000 album Readman on bass thing” that one of his records, Now I’m A The Facts of Life scored Haines his and Glenn Collins So what Cowboy’ was remixed by elec- first UK hit single with the sar- on drums. Through about the rumours tronic artist Mu-Ziq – friend of the donic but melodic title track – an a couple of breaks that Black Box likes of Aphex Twin and incongruous Top Of The Pops per- that Haines himself Recorder was origi- Squarepusher – I wondered what formance soon followed. In the admits were “lucky”, nally going to be a he though of the British electronic break between second and third The Auteurs n o i s e - t e r r o r i s t scene. BBR albums Haines found the secured themselves record in the same “I don’t really have any time to record his first solo album, a deal with ‘Hut’ vein as Lou Reed’s opinion on them at all. Mike the awesome and unpredictable records and in 1993 Metal Machine Paradinas got paid 500 quid to do Oliver Twist Manifesto plus the they put out the Music. that album which he thought was soundtrack to the still unreleased malignant guitar “We got rid fantastic because it gave him the brit-flick Christie Malry’s Own pop debut, New of that idea pretty deposit to move out of his mum’s Double Entry. Wave. A cracked quickly after we house, it sold really well in America And so that brings us reflection of faded banged a few and I got all the royalties from it. I stumbling into the light of the glamour (the album objects together guess that stuff isn’t really aimed present. With third BBR album contains the word and it didn’t sound at me” Passionoia having just hit the ‘star’ no less than 26 too good” laughs While Haines lyrics seem shops, I find myself face to face times) it caught the Moore. now to have moved away from with the protagonist himself, attention of the “The reson the death theme, one track on the along with his faithful cohort prestigious Mercury for its conception as new album, ‘The New Diana’ deals Moore. Given Haines’ numerous Music Prize panel. When it was Haines songwriting took a distinct a noise project was purely prag- with one very public death. brushes with full-blown fame, I announced that Suede had stylistic turn, looking to darker matic. Someone offered us a bit of “It isn’t really about her ask whether stardom is important scooped the prize, an alcohol subject matter such as aircrashes money to record a load of old death” counters Haines. to them. fuelled Haines went ballistic, and child murder for inspiration. noise, but they ended up pulling “It’s more a celebration of “I think we’re kind of past demanding of the Suede drum- The result was the critically laud- out of the deal so we started her life” claims Moore, although I the whole fame bit, in a way” mer that he hand over the prize ed (read poor selling) album ‘After thinking we might as well record a feel uneasily certain that he’s replies Haines “ We kind of exist in money. It later transpired that Murder Park’, for many Auteurs bloody song.” lying. our own vacuum that we’ve cre- only one panel vote had separat- fans Haines defining moment. It turns out that Sarah To finish, I ask them ated for ourselves. When people ed the two albums. Produced by Shellac’s master of Nixey, now the inimitable front- whether they can see any future start out in bands when they’re 17 A second album, ‘Now destruction Steve Albini, the woman for BBR was singing in a for BBR. they think that they’re going to I’m A Cowboy’, with class division album also signalled a new matu- folk-group for whom Moore occa- “We were talking just sell a million records. I realised very much the theme, followed in rity in Haines. Deciding that the sionally played the saw. before the interview” says Moore early on that all the bands I’ve 1994, by which time Collins had one thing the Auteurs weren’t was “I’d just made the Baader “how it would be good if our rela- ever liked had sold no records at been replaced by Barney C. a “regular band” (the type of band Meinhof record which hadn’t tionship is continued to death, so all.” Rockford and cellist James that Haines refers to in scathing taken over the entire entertain- we can visit one another while

PA G E 8

20th March 2003 POETRY IN MOTION KINESIS’S TOM AND CONOR TALK TO THE EDGE ABOUT THE WORLD, POLITICAL APATHY AND WORKSHY STUDENTS

Meeting Kinesis is an interest- f**k and fight lifestyle but, more start questioning…" communist. we should treasure Kinesis and all ing and stimulating affair, so importantly, may help to draw the But surely in a world where "Well it’s not purposely that that entails, including a devel- much so that my first couple of disenfranchised, disaffected social George Michael and Madonna are way," says Tom. "That’s just how it oped political line on war in Iraq, a drafts of this piece inspired a flood outsiders together and not allow making the ‘controversial’ political happens and we believe in equal- desire to keep up with current of anti-people vitriol not seen themselves to be cast as lepers. statements then something’s ity and we’re all in it together…" affairs while on tour, and a reitera- since the first draft of my school But aside from questioning this going wrong? "We split all the money equal- tion of their beliefs on freedom in yearbook page. way of life, is there any way of "I know what you mean, but I ly," adds Conor, "so it’s not like the reaction to David Blunkett’s prop- But we couldn’t print that for changing that deeply engrained think it says more about young songwriter gets 85% and all the ositions for music censorship. one main reason; it was offensive others get 5% each. Every "It’s like when you’ve got the to everyone. Truthful, self-con- member is as equal as the mainstream bark of a tree and any sciously hypocritical, but offen- next person and it sounds branches that come out from that sive so, rather than preaching and like a cliché but that’s how just seem to be cut off. (Hmmm... grinding my own moral axe, I’ll it is." using a tree as an analogy sounds just let Kinesis speak for them- Fantastic. So to mix kinda hippie... burn them) I mean, selves, well, for the time being at with the Manics’ angry anything that’s coming out that’s least, so let’s go back to the begin- young mentality you’ve different they want to have it con- ning, back to Bolton: got traces of The Clash trolled… (Ooooh, that’s better. At "Well," begins Conor, "where we practising as they preach. least they’re not f**king treehug- come from there’s no sort of music Now you might criticise gers)" scene, no sort of alternative cul- them for having Shopping "Yeah," says Conor. "He’s a cul- ture and because we were all the Is Not Creating as a T-shirt ture minister who hates culture. same age and grew up around the slogan yet still selling He hates culture that isn’t high- same area we didn’t need to work numerous pieces of brow opera. They just want every- hard to find each other. It was Kinesis-related parapher- one to listen to one type of music, quite obvious to us that we should nalia on their merchan- classical music, and it’s because be into a band." dise stall (as, indeed, our they don’t understand the culture, So was forming Kinesis a con- beautiful gig reviewer they don’t understand So Solid scious reaction to the mainstream has). Err, okay, tricky one Crew, and they’re scared of what culture? that but my argument they don’t know. "Yeah," interjects Tom. "I mean, would be that they are "And how can a country like everyone else went out on a part of a system and thus Britain that’s supposed to stand Friday night, took drugs and have to appropriate the for freedom not allow some black whatever, but we went and prac- methods of that system in guys from South London who tised on a Friday night and were order to try and change it. have a different view of the world? really diligent. I guess we were It’s like when the big cor- It’s about freedom." kind of reacting to the people porations point out that And that seems like the per- around us, but I think we were anti-capitalist protestors fect place to leave it but, before mainly reacting to the ritual of use mobile phones and they rush off to soundcheck, there going out. I mean, Friday night wear trainers in order to is time to cram in one final ques- comes, it’s the end of the week, protest against the capi- tion, so would you have ever con- you’ve finished five days of work, talist system, like they sidered going to university? you can’t think of anything else to assume that protestors "It just seems like the thing do, so let’s go and get pissed and should wear moccasins you do, but I would’ve gone to uni pull a girl who you would other- and communicate with to study politics. And if I had, I wise not pull. It’s that sort of thing KINESIS - Conor... without “silly black hat” homing pigeons. wouldn’t have been like one of that gets to us, and that’s what we And just like these those people who just pissed wanted to react against." protestors are a product around." Angry young men drawn culture? people being apathetic. I mean, of society’s system, so are Kinesis, Oooh, nice. A direct challenge together by a similar sort of us- "Well we’d like to change it but more people vote in Big Brother and that’s my justification of their to all the lazy students amongst against-the-world mentality that we’re musicians, we’re a band, and than in the local elections, but I merch stall, part product and part you (and me… I am aware of my drew four young men in I think what we’re trying to do is think it’s also about the way poli- commentary, though maybe own hypocrisy here so I thought Blackwood, Manic Street find an interesting way to put tics is put across because it doesn’t that’s just a rationalisation. In any I’d get that in before y’all com- Preachers, together a decade across our opinions and that’s seem like it has any relation to case, I’m not sure they ever whole- plain) who are only at uni for the before. Four young men reacting what the band is." their lives. It seems like it doesn’t heartedly adopt a political system pot of employment gold at the against the pointless, meaning- Do you think there’s enough matter who you vote for, whether apart from capitalism so perhaps other end of the educational rain- less, mindless cyclicism of main- politics in music? it’s Tory or Labour, because they’re it’s not so seemingly hypocritical. bow, with an insulting disrespect stream binge culture and, though "Well," begins Conor, "no-one pretty much the same party. I Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, for every inner city kid who would I could read an extra level of seems to be singing about any- think people just need to realise while similarities to other bands kill for this chance for escape and morality-driven vitriol into this, it thing other than love and I think that it’s alright to have a set of exist, they’re just incidental self-improvement. Perhaps wouldn’t be in keeping with what you have to have a broader world- beliefs and express them in the because Kinesis are doing it on Kinesis will make you question they actually said (though would view. You can’t just see your own way you live your life." their own terms, and this shows this if nothing else, but that’s what be interesting for further prob- little world and think that’s it, and Right on, brother. We got our- through in their loud, angular they’re here for. They’re not here ing). And whether you like it or though we never aim to preach selves some angry young men indie rock. I just find it sad that to piss about. They’re serious, and not they have a point, a point that down people’s throats, we just who all pull together in a song- bands that are confident in their it’s going to be hard for you to may make mainstream disciples want to show people that they writing process that keeps the strong opinions break through so resist. question their piss and puke and can make a difference if they just music exciting but sounds kinda rarely, but it is for this reason that And hopefully they’ll make you

PA G E 1 0 20th March 2003 kills and spills THE KILLS Joiners KINESIS’S TOM AND CONOR TALK TO THE EDGE ABOUT THE WORLD, POLITICAL APATHY AND WORKSHY STUDENTS Monday 3rd March I blame the confusion about the date that led to an under full Joiners for such a hyped band but, hey ho, that’s just the way things go (apologies to anyone who missed out on the basis of our pleased the band, who very incorrect gig guide… we just got KINESIS generously donated bottles of the incorrect info from the Joiners Joiners water to them throughout the website). Apologies also for the Tuesday 25th February gig. To top it off, the gig’s finale missed opportunity for seeing involved a rather pissed young former Elastica member Donna It’s 9.30pm and the walls of man climbing onto the stage Matthews’ new band that sound- the Joiners are already dripping and trying to wrestle the guitar ed like middle aged Elastica as, with condensation and, judging from the hat-clad guitarist, and whereas mid 90s Donna Matthews by the large number of gymslip then, the best bit of all, prompt- would stop the song after, say, wannabes, things are going to ly being thrown two and a half minutes, here the get much hotter. Having only with great force off the stage. pace is much slower and so, con- heard one single, I’m unsure of Very rock ‘n’ roll. sequently, the songs go on for what to expect of a young band Kinesis are tight and sophis- four or five minutes. Though it hailing from Bolton, and my ticated for a band so young, but sounds just like you’d expect, only arm-candy for the evening of course there’s always room not as good, though is made up loosely describes them as ‘polit- for improvement. Like the gui- for, in part, by the drummer’s ical rock’. I am even more baf- tarist should make up his mind porkpie hat, an interesting choice fled. whether to wear the silly black of headwear not spotted in St. On stage, Kinesis are four hat or not wear the silly black Mary’s since, ooh, 1931, when the teenagers, each donning a hat. On, off, on, off all night like wearer got attacked but conse- white T-shirt. It’s unclear if this a quently gave the rascals a clip statement is in the name of pol- bloody yo-yo. Although their round the ear and told ‘em to be itics or fashion, but the effect is music contains an element of on their way cos he knew their quite striking. After a brief the bubblegum punk that I per- mothers. Or did I just make that shout out to an enthusiastic sonally shrink away from, up? Well, whatever, as long as you crowd, Kinesis bungee into a Kinesis have distanced them- don’t try that sort of vigilantism refreshingly heavy cacophony selves from this, giving their now or you’ll get lynched by some of meaty drums and songs greater depth and har- fake gold wearing, while clothed, fizzing, grinding guitars. mony. That said, they need to Reebok Classic wearing bastards. Throughout their set they tease be careful not to rely too much Err, yeah. I’ve just completely the audience with the classic on that heavy-soft-heavy for- lost the thread of this whole recipe of push and pull, from mula I mentioned. review now. Who was at the gig him when, stage right, we have VV audience responds as you’d drums that shake you to the However, with songs borrow- again? Oh yeah, The Kills. Now, (real name Alison Mosshart), a imagine. This ain’t no balls out bone, halt and drop to a lull, ing from Radiohead’s The Bends The Kills are an interesting propo- super thin compulsive smoker AC/DC moshpit inspiring long and then… wait for it, wait for for those crunchy Greenwood sition, a bluesy two-piece (yeah, who once survived for six months hair cover band, or whatever it… ROCK. They storm through guitars, and nodding to their where have we heard that before?) on a diet of, err, lemon-flavoured cheesy crap that y’all dance to several songs, old and new, all stated favourites And You Will whose Spartan amp layout can be drinks (apparently, so the NME at The Cube. No, The Kills very infused with a childlike energy Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, it attributed, in part at least, to their says, but they also said that The much inspire the cool people’s which is very catching, and is unsurprising that their music use of a drum machine and the White Stripes are siblings). But dance, a.k.a. the indie dance, a recent single And They Obey received such an enthused fact that only one of them, Hotel intermittently, between smoking dance that isn’t so much a proves to be a fantastic throb- reaction this evening, while stir- (real name Jamie Hince), plays his an absurd amount of menthol dance and more a nodding and bing number in a live arena. The ring the embers of my distant geeeetarrrrrr all the way through cigarettes and dancing like a foot tapping combination with lead singer (a Dave Grohl pre- heavy rock days, and I felt enli- the set. It’s just a shame that this blues pole dancer imitating Uma drink in hand. It’s just the sort of haircut look-a-like) talks to the vened; these guys are cool, they cool new ‘band’ is too misanthrop- Thurman in Pulp Fiction, keeping thing you’d expect, in fact. After crowd between songs, telling are punky and edgy and I love ic to give us an interview. Oh well. the slack-jawed male population all, when was the last time you us we have restored their faith it. However, I have just one There’s nowt we can do about of the audience transfixed for the saw a crowd surfer at a blues in the South. You can’t beat a bone to pick with this lot; they that. There’s nowt we can do if set’s duration, she sings perfectly, gig? (and I ain’t talking no White good bit of band-crowd banter, are anti-corporate (or at least so they don’t like talking to people. just like on the album. She is, sim- Stripes blues… I’m talkin’ John I say. I would guess from their lyrics) But it just all seems so different ply, the perfect physical embodi- Lee Hooker, B.B. King and all By the third song they have and so chose Independente when they get up there. ment of the album’s throbbing, those other artists that me pa acquired themselves an impres- label over the offer from EMI. Hotel, Jamie, whatever, just pulsing sexuality. Mmmmmm… brought me up on.) But that’s sive-sized mosh-pit for such a Why, then, do they insist on seems really happy on home turf anyway, though the set perhaps The Kills in a nutshell. Transfixing small venue. There were too charging extortionate prices for (by which I mean, well, the U.K.) suffers from this being one of but cooler than all that horrible many young-‘uns present for merchandise, most of which I and manages to keep the crowd their first U.K. shows and the audi- sweating business, and with a my could knock up in my bedroom onside even when they have a flat ence’s non-familiarity with the bristling tension and paranoia liking but, then again, I am a (probably)? Well? battery after their opener, material (though eager punters underlying their simple mini- miserable fart and jealous of Apart from that though, the Superstition. To be honest, will have a basic insight from malist blues riffs. the ease with which they enjoy gig provided throbbing music, though, regardless of how charm- 2002’s Black Rooster EP). But this themselves. And clearly their an up-for-it crowd, a friendly, ing The Kills’ main instrument doesn’t seem to matter as the RICH HEAP delight and senseless jumping talkative band. All in all a won- merchant is, no-one’s looking at

PA G E 1 1 20th March 2003 WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU SOHO SCARLET SOHO’S LEE AND JIM TALK MCDONALDS, MIDGE URE AND MISS BLACK AMERICA world and how nice it looks and not a pop song but making sure Getting taken upstairs at the "No." you decide to give it a pat and that it’s still a pop song." Joiners is a rare treat. No graffitied "Ferdinand Magellan (post- SCARLET SOHO then it rips your arm off for no "A top ten smash for the alter- Underworld this time. Instead we Columbus Portugese explorer, Joiners reason and then pretend that it’s native fan," says Jim. "There you have the comparable luxury of born in 1480, who led the first Thursday 27th February done nothing wrong. And then, go." Scarlet Soho’s lounge, a sparse yet nautical circumnavigation of the allegedly, they didn’t touch any- Right, so a bit hazy, then. Oh, large room with a sofa, cushions globe and was killed in battle, in In a half full Joiners Scarlet thing." just read the gig review and it’ll and beer crates for seating. It Guam, on April 27th 1521... I Soho make their return to Sorry, what’s this all about? give you a better idea (well, hope- looks a bit like a ‘squat’ (their think).” Southampton. They’re on "Well we had a bit of trouble at fully), but how do they feel about word) yet Scarlet is particularly "No… f**k it. Move onto the home turf but, much to Jim’s our gig in Exeter because we left how they’re perceived in the impressed by the light bulb, pre- next question. No, wait, Dancing consternation, their usual our Minidisc player behind and press? sumably a new addition since With Tears In My Eyes." hardcore South Coast support the band who played there the "Well the press we get is get- they left Southampton to go on "Ultravox." isn’t out at full strength. So in a next night, who will remain name- half full venue, the three-piece less (put two and two together take to the stage and, flitting readers) stole our disc and out between keyboards and gui- leads and just left the player there. tars, do what they’re here to But they handed the player in. I do. And what are they here to just don’t like the fakery. I mean, if do? Well, give some indication you’re going to be an arsehole of what Placebo would sound then just be an arsehole then at like if they brought in synths let everyone knows where they and kicked out Brian Molko, stand, but if you’re going to pre- electronic yet soaring. Banish tend to be nice then don’t do all thoughts of electronic something like that. I hope they music as intentionally soulless jump out of a very fast train. That (this ain’t no goddam Kraftwerk would be a good idea. Especially if after all) and unfailingly crap your band’s as s**t as his (Seymour (there will be good and bad Glass) as well. He had to bring in a bands in every genre). Luckily load of sumo wrestlers because Scarlet Soho don’t fall into his band ditched him. And his either of these traps as, though wife ditched him as well. You can it can all get a bit 80s in places, print all this, I don’t care." SCARLET SOHO - go on... look at the camera it’s good, better than you’d But not to bitch about anyone, expect from a band who, let’s though. ting better. I mean, we had one their latest glamorous tour. So "Midge Ure. There’s got to be a not forget, comes from "No. Well that’s not bitching. bad review in Kerrang! and we Lee, are there any interesting tour difference between class and a Southampton (no wonder they I’m just informing the rest of the never wanted Kerrang! to like us stories? look and a look with no class. wanted to go on tour). And, 50 local bands for their own safety, anyway…" begins Jim. "Well, we went into We’re perceived as a glam band minutes later, it had all passed, really." "I mean," Lee interrupts, "though McDonalds today wearing dress- when we have more to offer than surprisingy quickly, and well Err, anyway, moving on. What there’s a guitar element in out ing gowns and ‘Michael Barrymore’ a glam band because a glam band worth a look if you’re after inspires your song writing? music, there’s not a metal element written on my forehead, and Jim look good and play s**t and we some local talent in order to "I don’t know. I really like the and if they’re going to turn around had ‘Paul Gadd’ written on his and look good and play well." boost your elitist credibility. live element of playing and want and say that it’s a bit floppy just acted like there was nothing You’ve signed to an American to try and inject as much energy fringed s**tty then fine…" wrong. And the driver went in label. How have they been? RICH HEAP into it as I can… actually (to Jim) "We can’t help the way we look," with no shoes on and a dressing "Oh, they’ve been cool, and Jim, do you want to answer a bit says Jim, looking like a more gown and filmed it, and kids kept they’re far more honest and far cool. I mean, you go to a venue of this question?" angular Nicky Wire, "and that’s coming up and asking "Why are more willing to take a risk on and look in their hall of fame, and "What is it?" he asks, while on why everyone chucks us in the “I like to try and make something that may offer some- who’s there? Jimi Hendrix, The the prowl for some of the salad glam bracket which then switches thing to the scene. I mean, wher- Who, The Clash… where’s f**king cream drenched lettuce (that’s, everyone off ‘cos when you hear things quite angular ever we’ve been every sound Depeche Mode, The Cure, any like, so hedonistically rock and roll that a band’s glam you don’t want like... a car accident.” engineer, who’s working seven band who ever offered this coun- it’s untrue... sorry, I’m just being to hear what they’ve got to offer. I nights a week, says "I’ve never try any style?" facetious) in the middle of the mean, we’re not a glam band, we you wearing dressing gowns" and seen a band like you before" and And with that Jim’s rant floor. just look good. There’s got to be (to Jim) what did you say?" I’m sure he wouldn’t be able to say endeth and sums up Scarlet ""What inspires your writing?"" some difference between Steve "That we were Buddhists." anything like that to all the noth- Soho’s approach, which though "Well," begins Jim. "I like to make Strange and (long pause)…" "I think the cabin fever had just ing bands like Reuben and The not necessarily fitting into a pre- things quite angular, and try and "David Gray," throws in kicked in. I mean, we should be Kills and The Datsuns and The established genre, is no less valid sound like (pause) a car accident. Whitetown (creator of, err, some fine because we’ve had days off f**king Libertines and The Strokes or any less good because of it, Lyrically we’re very detached but song in the distant past, or so I’m here and there but we’re just not. who are just regurgitating the though is definitely less clichéd. focused…" told), relaxing in the corner. No-one’s coping particularly well, same old rock stuff from the last And with that the interview How do you mean? "No." or bearing up very well. Oh, we 45 years. It just seems that only needn’t carry on, giving me all I "Err… well you can conjure a "(whiny voiced banjo playing got paid in chicken last night as that stuff is allowed to come need for a decent transcript (well, few images in your head but we’re Northern gimp) George Formby ?" well.." round again and anything with a two decent transcripts actually) a bit Bowie-esque lyrically, um, "No… I was thinking of…" So what’s the best band you’ve smatter of British 80s style to it, so I accept the hospitality on offer but, yeah… we want to be angu- "Imelda Marcos (former Miss played with? like The Cure and Depeche Mode, (can of lager, chicken microwaved lar but songy." Manila and wife of Philippine dic- "Miss Black America," throws in is just overlooked and it’s a dis- to perfection, and chips), kick "We want it to be challenging tator Ferdinand Marcos, charhed the driver. grace because Depeche Mode back, listen to The Faint’s fantastic but still keeping it as a song. I in October 2001 of illegally amass- "Oh no, not Miss Black America. have sold 50 million albums new album, and wait ‘til it’s time mean, you can want to challenge ing wealth during her husband’s They’re like, if you imagine having worldwide, beating The Smiths, to go downstairs for the Scarlet yourself to write a pop song to be dictatorship)." the sweetest little bunny in the but NME says that The Smiths are Soho live experience...

PA G E 1 2 20th March 2003 SWANSONG THE EDGE DISCOVERS THE HIDDEN DEPTHS OF FORMER SWAN MICHAEL GIRA Michael Gira children’s toes. has now left behind him the His acoustic guitar, lain throbbing metallic stasis that + Devendra Banhart skewed across his lap is alternate- characterized Swan’s early work, Bush Hall, London ly coaxed then battered into sub- his music could hardly be said to Tuesday 11th March mission, while his mind – the real have mellowed. On the contrary, tour de force of his whole being – as his solitary figure occupies the San Francisco’s Devendra wanders freely through the candy stage in front of a crowd mainly Banhart is an utter original. shop that is his imagination. made up of ageing Swans devo- Perched cross legged and shoe- Banhart is the person that every tees, his person is positively glow- less atop a folding table, which is kid who ever picked up an acous- ering. placed centre-stage of West tic guitar subconsciously wishes Plunging into the very London’s austere Bush Hall, he they could be if only they had core of his volatile being, Gira appears less than fully compos either the wit or the intelligience. spews forth an incredible range of mentis. They’d probably sing in his delib- emotions, from brooding anger to Think of all the stories erately warbled demi-yodel too, if passionate joy to weary accept- you ever read about Syd Barrett, only they had the charisma to pull ance to demented terror. The gui- wide-eyed and lysergically it off. tar playing may not be accom- demented, howling to the moon plished, or even pretty, but it’s about god-knows-what, and then When Michael Gira, then sheer uncompromising brutality imagine that Barrett is here right leader of seminal nihil-rock leg- is enough to break either the in front of you – except that his ends Swans, picked up an acous- heart or the will of the most hard- MICHAEL GIRA vegetable men lyrics have tic guitar in 1988 an hammered ened souls. Americanized themselves into out his version of “Love Will Tear The majority of Gira’s stream-of-conciousness tales of Us Apart” he set the precedent material is taken from his brand is the moving track ‘The Family Michael Gira has now unvisited States, and dentally which was to guide the rest of his new Angels of Light CD. Whereas God’ which plays on the themes been producing his distinctive reckless souls (whom Banhart career, and with the induction of there extensive use is made of a of isolation and All Souls’ Rising brand of harrowing music for the most likely knows personally), not his Angels of Light project in 1999, wide range of instrumentation, in which is almost defines the physi- last 20 years and still shows no to mention the black babies grow- he established himself as fully this live context his songs are ren- cal manifestation of human mis- signs of stopping. ing from between his Chinese reborn Yet despite the fact that he dered bare. Particularly effective ery.

Black Box Recorder ble. It’s true that Black Box MeanSHADOW Fiddler, London During their BOXING set com- Recorder’s music doesn’t auto- Sunday 9th March prised mainly of songs from their matically lend itself to a live situ- new album ‘Passionoia’, Black Box ation, partly because of Moore’s Taking the stage clad in Recorder also find the time to dig bizzare synth-guitar interpreta- white suits which wouldn’t look out their now classic top twenty tions of the album tracks and entirely out of place in the long single, ‘The Facts of Life’, their per- partly because of Nixey’s cut- room at Lords, Luke Haines and verted All Saints soundalike tale glass whisperings. Furthermore, John Moore seem unusually of underage teenage sex, the seeing as the Black Box Recorder upbeat - if not happy then cer- Radio One-banned single ‘Child audience is mainly made up of tainly mischevious. Singer Sarah Psychology’ (featuring the line former Auteurs die-hards, the Nixey, for her part, plays the enig- ‘Life is unfair/Kill yourself or get atmosphere is simultaneously matic femme fatale par excel- over it’) and their first ever song adoring and sceptical. At least lence, although her undoubtedly ‘Girl Singing in the Wreckage’. twice requests for Auteurs tracks ‘ironic’ dress sense (the foulest The purpose of this eve- dating from 9 or 10 years ago pair of red PVC trousers you ever ning is chiefly to showcase their came shouted from the audi- saw) leaves a lot to be desired. new album, however, and they do ence, although Haines stoutly Launching straight into that admirably. With tracks such ignored them. the title track from their first as the seductive ‘School Song’, With an encore of one album, ‘England Made Me’, an with Nixey as adolescents’ fantasy of Passionoia’s most endearing subtle tirade against the conser- teacher, and ‘These Are The tracks, ‘Andrew Ridgely’, a tale of vatisms of English life, Black Box Things’, perhaps an caustic analy- mocking love for George Recorder instantly hush the crowd sis of Moore and Nixey’s mar- Michael’s trusty Wham! Sidekick, into submission. While their unde- riage, Black Box Recorder demon- Black Box Recorder affirm them- niably ‘pop’ songs aren’t filled with strate that they are yet again mov- selves as Britains rightful (and the same bile that characterized ing in a new direction, to a place spiteful) heirs to the pop crown. Haines’ former band ‘The Auteurs’, where synth pop is king and stub- the bleak sense of humour which borness is the new irony. Tim Houghton seethes from every lyric is palpa-

PA G E 1 3 20th March 2003 27th FEBRUARY 2003 PUSSY GALORE The Edge speaks to Brighton’s newest young talents, Cat On Form Cat On Form formed in Brighton on is that there are lots of things lives that we want to express and ed with the crowd the better the Solipsis Launch night in December 2001 and since then in this world which are very VERY get free from. sometimes that vibe got, and their slick tracks The Joiners Arms have grown a big fan base in their wrong and they need changing. comes out in talking about a rela- were well received, a highlight 17/03/03 hometown and also further a field we are all defiantly anti-capitalist tionship between two people, being Mystro’s take on Blak through gigs played nationwide. and are sickened by consumer sometimes it comes out in a tirade Twang’s Half and Half. Harry Love As a result of the huge They have been highly praised by society and everything that about capitalism and war. it's (who now has his own collective- success of the Skitz new years eve the NME among others and espe- comes with it. we are repulsed by almost like what we talk about is a the Extended Players) provided night at the Joiners, the weekend cially for their support slot with racism, fascism, sexism, homopho- by-product of our personalities: decent backup. music style has shifted, with a Fugazi last year. Their hardcore bia, war...the list is endless. our first and foremost we are a band At midnight Stapleton host of regular weekend dance style is attracting attention and basic premise is like this: people that plays music, then what we took to the decks, accompanied nights set to bang the joiners to with their constant stream of need to take better care of each make music about is what we as by an unscheduled open mic slot, its foundations. With a distinct explosive live shows and their other. all the rest stems from that, people are interested in. consisting of MC’s from around lack of underground club nights debut album being released later we just feel like the world we live the area, some whom appeared in Southampton, Solipsis makes a in the summer this could be a in makes people treat themselves Do you believe that music is a to be more suited to garage or welcome appearance on the first great year for them. The Edge and other people like utter shit good medium through which to d+b than hip hop. During the set Friday of every month. spoke to Steve, one of the bands and that's fucking evil. draw attention to ideas, spread we managed to get a couple of My arrival found two singer/guitarists: messages, or make statements? words from Defikew; "Nexus is a Hampshire based Aum-3 per- We get called a "political" band Yes. it's one of many good media, wicked venue for hip hop, forming a live set on stage. Why 'Cat on Form' as a name? which is weird because every the thing is that music is really although we needed a few more Talented volcalists were com- Well, we like the sound of it. and band should be political. there's wasted a lot of the time! for us, heads to liven it up. The scene is bined with a keyboard & drum cats are pretty cool, kinda like jazz this idea that politics is Politics, it's music has been a hugely powerful definitely finding its feet, there’s a machine to produce a quality set, speak or sommat. but also force in our lives, it has lot of talent here, and its growing", with stage dancers adding a touch it's the kind of name that changed how all of us and from Mystro; "There’s a bigger of visual entertainment. Aum-3 you don't know what the live and i think that's scene for hip hop down here than played through a range of music band is like - some names proof enough of what I thought, a growing potential styles, accelerating from a fairly you hear and you just you can achieve with from what I’ve heard from open slow drum & bass style beat com- KNOW they're gonna be music. if we can intro- mic, and although Southampton’s bined with trancey rifs into some some lame indierock stuff, duce people to new further away from London than I more uplifting hard/psy trance or you just KNOW it's gonna ideas on whatever level, estimated, I’m hoping to come with epic note changes. In the be metal. hopefully cat on through shows or back. I’m loving it!" later part of the set the pace really form doesn't sound like a through records then Intalex took over the started rising and the under- particular genre. that's really cool and I decks for the next half hour, start- ground crowd responded well to think we do that, and will ing off with chilled breakbeat the introduction of a pumping Who would you cite as continue to do that with then upping the pace with a fast beat, inducing maximum main influences on the more force. damn good old skool jungle set, energy on the dance-floor. The band: musically, politically fantastic tracks seamlessly mixed end of the set was comprised of or in any form? Much has been said and mashed up, with most people the fast, energetic music for which There are no main influenc- recently about Brighton’s on the dance floor (including the Aum 3 are known, a twisted mix es. between the four of us music scene after the DJs and MCs). Following on the of acid metal/nu energy providing we listen to so much differ- successes on different tempo Stapleton re-emerged at a wicked sound track to get down ent stuff (and things that stages of the Eighties 1am and finished off the night to. The performance was interest- each other hates). musically Matchbox, British Sea with a good deal of mainstream ing and impressive, with expert i guess we're influenced by Power, Electric Soft d+b floor-fillers, Peshay’s U Got musical ability demonstrated punk rock generally, since Parade, Electrelane and Me Burning, Marky and Patife’s LK, throughout. we play guitars and drums. others, do you believe and Dillinga’s Twist ‘Em Out, whilst Southampton star, Nik in terms of who we're there is something spe- the open mic MC’s took to the Denton delivered a storming INSPIRED by (which is dif- cial about Brighton and stage once more. I was a bit dis- offering from his start at 11. The ferent to influenced by) its scene? is it producing appointed by Stapleton’s use of toolbox recordings owner contin- then that's an endless ques- the best new bands at the ‘rewind’ although most of his ued with the fast pace set by Aum tion. just anything that has the moment for you? set was pretty well done. It would 3, launching into some pumping soul or passion in it, regard- have been good to hear a few hard dance with B.K’s mix of Tony less of what "type" of music I don't think there's any- Quicker than the eye: CAT ON FORM newer tracks too, since I could de Vit’s I don’t care. Denton kept it is...the same thing goes thing special about recognise half of them from DJ the bass pounding, his choice of politically, we are just Brighton, no. I mean, it Hype’s compilations of last year. c.d decks allowing the tunes to be inspired by things we think and something up there with -isms doesn't have a particularly helpful Overall it was a good, pitched up far beyond the bound- feel, things we see around us. any- and parties and books and things. infrastructure - there are only real- smooth-running night, the high- aries of +8% imposed by turnta- thing that moves us...sometimes i mean, that's the intellectual end ly 2 venues etc! but the bands that lights for us being Koob, MI5 and bles. The set continued on the you read a book and you think of things and it's very valuable but do exist are supportive of each Intalex, who weren’t promoted hard dance theme, alternating "fuck!" and it opens yr eyes to it hides the fact that politics is just other which is awesome..I that well on the flyers. With a few between tougher beats & pump- something and then you write another word for life. everything wouldn't go so far as to say it's like more nights and bigger names, ing hard trance such as Miss some words about it. same thing you do is politics...you go to a proper community, people Triple 2 has the potential to make behavin’s such a good feelin, with if you hear a band that kicks yr ass, school, how you get treated in aren't playing together every its mark as a major hip hop pro- seamless mixing throughout. The or if you just get annoyed at your family, what you get paid at night or living together or any- moter in Southampton, and local local hero went on to bang out a things in your life and you want to work, the fact that as a girl you thing, but certainly those bands support can really make this hap- quality mix of hard, fast N.R.G./ get that out. were given different toys to a boy, you mention all know and like pen. hard house combining recent everything. all these little things each other and help each other Purdy Wickham anthems with older classic tunes Cat on Form appear very opinion- ARE politics and in that sense out. all of them have been cool to such as Dj Misjah & Dj Tim’s Access. ated and political, what are your every band that talks about life is us, come to our shows or asked us Triple 2 are looking to recruit peo- Denton’s mix was flawless & pro- ideological beliefs? talking about politics. the sad fact to play with them, and that's real- ple to help out with promotion fessional demonstrating why his We have a whole bunch of differ- is that we don't hear many bands ly cool. and organisation for next year; if name is on the line up of most of ent beliefs. for example, jamie, talking about life, they're just full you’re interested, contact David Southampton’s top underground dan and eva are all vegan but i eat of shit. like I say, we just address Phil Hoile Jenkins on 07881 624153. dance nights. meat. so we don't all agree on things that we think and feel, London star, Fabry, of everything. but what we do agree things we experience in our daily Antiworld fame took over at 12.15.

PA G E 1 4 27th FEBRUARY 2003 20th March 2003 dance

Unfortunately, due to the limita- Triple 2 Cartel dressed in a thick duffel coat and PESHAY manages to satisfy his contract with Becks via tions of pitch control on vinyl The Nexus scarf in the packed club. He set subtle advertising techniques decks, there was no way that 26/02/03 the stage perfectly for his poetic Fabry could progress from showpiece with the lights dimmed Denton’s set at similar speed. Over the past couple of to nothing, and him grasping a That meant an abrupt drop in the years Southampton has seen Hip red lantern close above his face. pace & energy of the music which Hop come to the forefront of the As he set the backing music he is not good, especially at peak music scene, with The Nexus in would rhyme confidently, focus- time. The set was begun with particular playing host to a ing on everyday topics like fast pumping, bouncy psy trance & number of pretty large promot- food, and family rather than the progressed through some excel- ers. Tonight Triple 2 promised an fast cars and cash that many lent Mark E.G style bouncy hard adventurous line-up of MC’s and American rappers confine them- trance. The crowd quickly got DJ’s, combining a smattering of selves to. As the tunes became back into stomp mode, warming London middleweights with more emotive so did the atmos- to the uplifting breaks & quality some of Southampton’s talented phere as the soloist let shiny bouncy beats of the German style locals. sprinkles drop from his hand hard trance such as the awesome The night kicked off with catching the red light as they fell Futlicht mix of Marc dawn’s Southampton regular Defikew in front of his face. A masterfully Expander. Fabry continued with mixing up a selection of well- poetic and original show from a an offering of pumping German known numbers, including a man who could breath fresh air hard trance/techno with expert remix of Roots Manuva’s Witness, into a Hip-Hop of the future. mixing skill, the only problem and a fantastic scratch-up of Jean The Lifesavaz followed to give us a was a skipped record due to peo- Pauls’s Gimme da Light, which far more orthodox performance. ple dancing too hard on the gave a refreshing twist to a par- The DJ opened alone, combining stage! ticularly over-played track. The some exemplary scratching with The front bar was hosted easing in worked- after getting some mediocre rapping, but any- Blackalicious on their most recent pointingly empty club as resident by the Mush crew who provided the crowd out of their seats and one who can do the pair simulta- album. His performance was DJ CQ went through the motions an alternative to the hard dance onto the dance floor, local human neously has got serious skills. As admiral due to the new stage with a selection of little heard in the main room with a sound- beat-box Koobs entered the stage the crowd were primed, on came show. With gift of the Gab missing favourites of the last 5 years like track of top quality drum & bass and proceeded to show off his the 2 slick rhyming rappers. They it limited the tracks they were Krust’s Warhead 2000. Switch took to chill or drink to. The Joiners considerable talents, which could showed real rapport, feeding off able to perform, many of the over and prised a few people from makes a good venue for an come to rival those of Rahzel. each other and the crowd as the crowd awaited early classics such their seats with a well constructed underground night, the fairly Backed by Defikew on the decks, raps intensified. As the set was as Alphabet Aerobics but it did set blending amen heavy jungle small main room creating an inti- not appear. They rolled on playing tunes to more fresher flavas like mate atmosphere in which to get classics such as green light and Roni Size and Tali’s Lyric on my Lip. down. The Solipsis promoters 4000 miles. The Lifesavas also There was always a chance of a had done well, with decoration of joined the stage, working well poor turn out due to the sloppy the venue and a varied & interest- with Lateef and the outstanding communication between ing line up providing top quality backing singers to give the char- Southampton’s promoters. The music. More thought could have acteristic soulful sound. Chief Xcel Green Cellar had put a lot of effort gone into the order of the line up, kept it steady at the back with in to promoting their night with so as to keep the pace & energy simple but effective turnata- Infrared new boy Danny Wheeler increasing through the night & it bleism. The group interacted well supported by Bristol regular DJ was a shame that that the attend- with the crowd giving a sense of Amo and First Rate, and it looked ance was quite small. The night intimacy between band and audi- to have paid off. A line up with has all the makings of a top qual- ence. lots of depth but not enough ity underground night. Catch the All in all it was a quality night and strength in my opinion so I Zen Terrorists next month live on the crowds went home more than hedged my bets on Sequence stage, I’ll see you there. satisfied. Watch out for Squeeze delivering the best night. Sadly I Ian Brewer 18 part-III Ugly Duckling on 30th was among the few as the night April @ Nexus went on it became clear that the turn out was unprecedentedly Blackalicious Rich Madgwick and Jake small with fewer than 50 present Squeeze 18 @ Nexus Smokcum for Peshays set at 12.30. A name 3/3/03 MC LATEEF like Peshay deserves so much more and you could hardly be With top acts like this and more he started off with some vocal climaxing, the vibe was almost Peshay surprised at his unenthusiastic broken by a power failure, but the to come at the Nexus, Squeeze 18 scratching and beats, then as the Sequence @ Nexus expression as he walked into a Lifesavaz recovered well with near are fast cementing themselves as momentum picked up launched 19/02/03 club devoid of atmosphere. the premier Hip-Hop night in into a brilliant show of his skills of faultless tag team free-styling as Though his album of 2002 Fuzion the crowd clapped the rhythm. Southampton. After the unquali- simultaneously combining beats, The last six months have seen didn’t quite live up to his debut Though not showcasing anything fied success of the Rahzel show bass and vocals. Sequence rise to play an integral Miles from Home there was still new in the way Buck 65 did, the selling out after only 10 days, the Next up were the role in every Drum and Bass fans hope to hear the newest beats Lifesavaz proved worthy support prospect of a top bill, live seven London- based hip hop crew MI5 diary. Some promoters just keep before they reach the streets. On for the Hip Hop bombardment piece Hip Hop act was cause for made up of frontman MC Mystro bringing in the same old names this count Peshay didn’t disap- that was to follow. excitement. Some innovative and backup MC Jargon, support- on the regular circuit, but point, rolling out an array of unre- This UK tour did not start easily for support came from Buck 65 and ed by ex- Scratch Perverts Harry Sequence are different reaching leased tunes from across the Blackalicious. Three days before Blackalicious’ Quannum Project Love on the decks. These guys to the corners of the field to pro- Drum and Bass spectrum. Far flying over Gift of Gab (one of the compatriots the Lifesavaz. were clear showmen, creating a vide the fruitiest of line ups. from just relying on his own syn- main components) was taken in Late door opening gave the massive presence on stage, incor- Peshay is no exception, as a front onymous jazzy classics, the set to hospital with diabetic prob- crowd little time to wait before porating the crowd with call and runner in jazzy D and B produc- reflected Peshays experiments lems. This left the more than capa- the live action began. The extrav- responses, and demanding full tion we could do with seeing a lot with House-like Drum and Bass ble Lateef to stand in as main MC. agant Canadian, Buck 65 opened participation on the dance floor. more of him on the South Coast. and even latin flavas in the form Lateef has collaborated with proceedings, coming on stage It seemed the more they interact- We arrived expectantly to a disap- of Lemon D’s Get on Down. The

PA G E 1 5 20th March 2003 27th FEBRUARY 2003 FILM

JACKASS: THE MOVIE

Dir: Jeff Tremaine Starring:Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius.

If you’re one of those people who can’t stand (or understand) the t.v. show, or you’re expecting an actu- al “movie” with a script and plot etc., then there really is nothing for you here. For anyone else though, this is just about the funniest thing you’ll ever see at the cinema. To analyse Jackass in any way would be to miss the point, so I won’t even try, but it’s cer- tainly refreshing, in an age of political correctness and safety regulations, to see a bunch of slackers showing such reckless disregard for their own safety and dignity. You can’t help but admire That Tape in The Ring... Johnny Knoxville and friends, who are willing to undergo severe pain and humiliation in their extreme relies more on the chill factor. you only have 7 days to live. As we and often highly imaginative However, the rest of the film uses find out, one of the girls has Kate Winslet tries to save the life of David Gale stunts, just for our cheap enter- so much teen horror flick tech- watched the video,seven days tainment (although grossing over niques that it seems Verbinski ago, and the film then takes us $65 million in the US must have (Time Machine and The Mexican) through a fairly tense sequence as made it worthwhile). doesn't seem to realise genuine we watch her get killed. Her aunt- Having said that, howev- creepiness does require a certain ie, played by Naomi Watts, begins er, there isn’t really much here deviation from the genre, in more to investigateher death and that’s any more extreme than the than one respect. I find the most decides to find and watch the t.v. series, despite what the post- frustrating of these, the main video herself. The film follows ers say; so any twisted weirdos female character, Rachel, played Watts, as she tries to find out who expecting a borderline snuff by Watts, who is irritating and or what is behind the video and movie might be a bit disappoint- does not possess any common how it can be stopped. ed in that respect. But you can’t sense, despite apparently being a This was meant to be an really complain about a movie strong and independent single original and tense thriller and not that has you laughing non-stop mother. My personal favourite your usual teen horror flick. It from start to finish. Highlights was her being hit in the head by a does partly achieve this by not include a spectacular opening TV and hence flying down a well. using guts and gore, but instead sequence, the klaxon on the golf The film is not only a COMING SOON course, Spike Jonze in old man remake, but has elements of about 4 other horror films within make-up on the mobility scooter, Just Married- romantic comedy, the plot, those that came to my and all the stuff with the alliga- starring Brittany Murphy as rich mind, were Poltergeist, Scream, tors. And whatever you do, don’t kid who falls in love and gets mar- Psycho,to name a few...It also has leave before the end credits have ried to a surfer dude. a few 'dramatic' soap opera moments, which probably meant Rules of Attraction- based on Bret THE RING to shock, but made me and the Easton Ellis's novel, this satire is a people sitting next to me laugh. teen comedy with a bit of a twist, Dir.: Gore Verbinski What wecould call the second as James Van Der Beek (also Starring: Naomi Watts, Martin ending was an improvement on known as Dawson) and friends Henderson, David Dorfman, Brian the first, which was pure American indulge in copious amounts of Cox cheesiness, but the conclusion is sex, drugs and alcohol. just a tad silly and you are left exit- OK. I'll be honest, I haven't ing the cinema saying "What??". I The Core- another disaster movie, seen the original recent Japanese think more should have been- another life threatening phenom- version that this is based on. I made of the boy, who has the enon, this time the Earth's core think maybe I should have seen it scariest eyes and just generally will apparently stop spinning before the American remake, really reminded me of The Shining, unless Hilary Swank and Aaron because now, I've kind of been and although not exactly great as Eckhart travel to the core in time?? put off. an actor was creepier than the The Ring starts with two teen- dead girl. Johhny English- Rowan Atkinson, age girls discussing a new urban I went to this film expecting to makes a comeback as undercover myth- a videotape which has dis- be scared, and I'll admit it, I was. agent. turbing images that are almost But I'm afraid I just wasn't scared like someone's dream. Once you enough to ignore the flaws of this Also don’t forget the Oscars on finish watching the videotape the remake. phone rings, and a voice tells you 23rd March.

PA G E 1 6 PA G E 1 6