Old punks make a return
If I was asked to name anything that came from Redditch, I would probably answer Led Zeppelin`s drummer John Bonham, Rick Mayall`s Kevin Turvey and the band The Cravats, Sadly the first two are now no longer with us but thankfully The Cravats are.
The band formed in 1977 and were championed by the late John Peel with four sessions.
They called a halt to proceedings in the mid-eighties and it wasn’t until the 2006 release of ‘The Land of The Giants’ double CD compilation on Overground Records that many folk realised what they’d missed.
Co-founder The Shend (Chris Harz) and original Saxophone & Clarinet player Svor Naan, along with fellow Redditcharian Rampton Garstang on drums, resurrected a live version of the band in 2009 at the bequest of admirers old and new. But it is only since the addition of Viscount Biscuits on guitar and Joe 91 on bass that they decided to record new material.
‘Dustbin of Sound’ is their first new LP in 35 years. “King Of Walking Away” opens this offering with some bleating sax before we get The Shend`s sort of spoken words layered on the top of what has soon become a wall of sound. I really loved the quirky lyrics `You say you love me but you`ll hate me one day` Magic.
An air raid siren is the introduction to “Batterhouse” before a wonderful bass line leads us up a path to an all-out musical sortie from the band with lyrics that seem like an allegory of the burdens of the working man. I really loved the next song “Motorcycle Man” a road trip of sorts, with the sound chugging away, I almost felt I was riding along. The words are well crafted and I was left with the feeling on not being sure whether it was pro or against the pleasures or not of biking.The legendary Simeon Oliver Coxe III from the psychedelic electronic music group Silver Apples helped with Oscillators on this track.
“100 Percent” is a straight up rock out and at times had the feel of a tune that could be used in a movie. Some renegade private eyes theme.
A fast-paced trip is up next with “Blurred” a song with lyrics about somebody who seems to be on the edge. Oddly eccentric but pleasing none the less.
A snippet of Morse code followed by a great punk riff leads us into “Power Lines” a song about somebody with an unhealthy interest in pylons or steel lattice towers used to support overhead power lines. The tune has an underlying riff on which the rest of the band really get a driving thumping intensity going to support The Shend`s angry oral outbursts.
A political discourse follows with “Jingo Bells” a sermon on the dangers of aggressive nationalism set to quite a catchy tune, we even get some church bells thrown in. The lyrics of Jingo bells, could be mistaken for Jingle bells, an alternative to the usual Christmas offerings perhaps.
“Bury The Wild” seems to be a narrative on the slaughter of animals for food, shared over a blistering beat with pounding drums, quite raucous at times. I kind of assume “Bigband” is an offbeat tribute to drummer and bandleader Buddy Rich, who was widely considered one of the most influential drummers of all time and known for his virtuoso technique, power, and speed, Rich was billed as “the world’s greatest drummer” during his career and led his own big band. He certainly gets a lyrical soundcheck and Mr Garstang`s drumming is certainly powerful and fast, with the rest of the band frantically joining in. A manic but heavenly piece. “Whooping Sirens” is a slightly disturbing tale about somebody with an unnatural interest in the incidents that the emergency services must contend with. The Shend`s almost detached utterings are a perfect foil to the intense and penetrating backing.
“Hang Them” was even beyond my understanding but I really enjoyed this fast-paced mash up and was humming the line `Hang them, shoot them, Electrocute them, DIE` for the rest of the day. Quite disturbing. The penultimate track “Big Red Car” is a tune that is drenched in sax, a real in your face full on assault on the senses with The Shend seeming to rant an off-kilter description about a new motor and it`s abilities. The incomprehensible “All U Bish Dumpers” closes out the album with a wonderful mix mash of a tune. A cracker to end on.
It`s hard to categorise this troupe but I’d put them in with bands like Hawkwind, Pere Ubu, Captain Beefheart, Wolfgang Press and Red Lorry Yellow Lorry.
Phew!! What an offering this long player was. What can you say? These guys are Idiosyncratic, individual, peculiar, different, eccentric, unusual but most of all original and thought provoking.
Thirty-five years is a long time to wait for a new opus but this was well worth it. Welcome Back Guys
