Mclusky - 'My Pain & My Sadness...' (Too Pure)
3/5
By: Toby L
Before the underground, power-house rock album of last year - 'Mclusky Do Dallas' - came the very same Welsh ensemble's debut-album on Fuzzbox Records - the sumptuously-named 'My Pain and Sadness Is More Sad and Painful Than Yours'. Loud, aggressive, restlessly (un)tuneful, it was a lot like its predecessor, except without the equally psychotic, watchful eye of Steve Albini behind the mixing-desk.
Now designated with a much-anticipated re-release on their more permanent home of Too Pure, the Cardiff evangelists of chaotic-punk have delivered a mighty blast of fifteen tense guitar-beats, down-tuned to the tone of 'OUCH'.
From the self-proclaiming rasp of 'Joy', there's not much room for wonder over how this is going to carry itself out; noisy, uncompromising, void-of-timid guitar trashings against drum-smashings, bass collisions amidst abrupt endings and bellowing vocals that leave plenty to be desired for all of the right reasons.
But, then, you get the obligatory stand-outs (and we're not talking the suspect secret-track) - namely consisting of the quite wonderful 'Flysmoke', the closest this band gets to 'touching', itself forming the perfect cross between Idlewild's memorable 'When I Argue I See Shapes' and Mclusky's own US-parents, The Pixies' 'Monkey Gone To Heaven'. It's the one key contrast that allows you to realise just what a proposition you have present on your hands.
For once, a worthy re-issue then - and a compendium of scream-screech-terrorisers to irritate your parents with. And possibly yourself after enough time.
Artists in this article: Mclusky
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment