Mclusky
Oh, Mclusky: the bruised humour; the barbed riffs; the savage haircuts. And they’re Welsh, too.
But just don’t call them genuinely aggressive; they’ll ‘ave yer.
In all seriousness, despite the common depiction, Mclusky are an autonomous, dynamic and heavy-handed pop band – in the most brazen, guitar-obliterating sense possible. For, although the distortion may be high and the haircuts shaved (well, for frontman Andy ‘Falko’ Falkus at least – bassist Jon Chapple and drummer Jack Egglestone remain largely untreated in the follicle dept.), there is a primal humour that underlies every one of the ‘Clusky’s snappy punk-noise atrocities.
In the early days – Boobytrap’s ‘To Hell With Good Intentions’ LP – it wasn’t so clear, with arch accessibility caving under the lure of dissonant, rabid noise-squall. The band’s second – ‘Mclusky Do Dallas’ – for Too Pure, meanwhile, was that touch more inviting, aided at the helm by Steve Albini (some Chicago-based nerd that’s worked on Nirvana, PJ Harvey and Pixies... I mean, like, who?). While the band’s latest effort, and third – ‘The Difference Between Me & You Is That I’m Not On Fire’ – may well be their darkest in tone, though simultaneously most formed, ‘structured’ (whatever that means) and embracing.
A cult kudos to their name, the escalation from mere scene-outsiders to dominators could well arise in the not-too-ancient future; just you wait (bring some ear-plugs, though).
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: A sexy little black number, this typewriter-font strewn web-showcase is a good visual interpretation of the band’s impeccably sombre humour.
TOO PURE: Former home to the likes of PJ Harvey and Stereolab, the ‘Pure remains true to its name via its current roster – presently the bearer of such wonders as Scout Niblett, Laika and Electrelane.
ALBUM REVIEW – ‘THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME & YOU...’ 2004: the band’s most critically lauded to date. Is it any wonder we awarded it a mighty five stars?
CONCERT REVIEW – LONDON HIGHBURY GARAGE 2004: the band’s most striking, busy and sold-out headline show to date, and we were there, cheering on proceedings.
FESTIVAL REVIEW – ALL TOMORROW’S PARTIES 2004: our most mammoth ever piece on anything ever, rockfeedback bloated praise on the first weekend’s true highlights, save for Shellac, Mclusky.