John E Vistic is a Bristol-based British-Australian, singer-songwriter, and the lead singer and guitarist for The John E Vistic Rock N Roll Soundsystem. He`s been called a cult legend by BBC Radio 6’s Tom Robinson and ‘a towering figure on the UK live scene’. His latest EP `Humanz Are Bastardz` is released this month and follows his 2021 album ‘Under the Volcano’ and recent singles ‘Das Ubermensch’ & ‘Spiderz’. This extended play has an existentialist theme taking inspiration from novelists and deep thinkers.
`Crime & Punishment` takes its name from Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist, and journalist Mikhailovich Dostoevsky`s novel of the same name which has been praised as “one of the finest studies of the psychopathology of guilt written in any language.” It`s a really grungy slow burn slice of sleazy bluesy garage rock with vocals that give it a kind of smug strut and swagger but deliver that air of take it or leave it. `Gunz Germz & Steal!` refers to Jared Diamond the American scientist and author`s book `Guns Germs, and Steel` subtitled `A Short History of Everybody for the Last 13,000 Years`. A mid to fast paced outing with vocals that are howled ala John Lyden come Perry Farrell
and enjoys some blistering saxophone swathes that give it a hint of late seventies punks X-Ray Spex.
‘To Every Purpose Under Heaven’ takes its name from Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgårdwho has been described as “one of the 21st century’s greatest literary sensations” by the Wall Street Journal. The book is titled `A Time For Everything` in the United States and in the book its narrator is a man who has decided to draft a book about the history of angels. The number itself is a delightfully mesmerising reflective composition and has a kind of lyrical, philosophical, deep-thinking meditation about it and left me plenty of food for thought upon its conclusion.
This four-track extended play concludes with title track ‘Humanz Are Bastardz’ another stream of consciousness shared over a compelling aural presentation. The inspiration being singer, songwriter, and actor`s song `There ain’t half been some clever bastards` which was the b side to “Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick”.
I`m not sure where the spelling of some of the titles came from as glam hard rockers Slade had the same idea but there`s was to reflect their Black County dialect.
`Humanz Are Bastardz` is another well thought out presentation and a clever way to tempt those unfamiliar with this musician to give up a quarter of an hour and enjoy a brief taste of the flavour and the variety of this artist`s many talents.
Rating 9/10
