Electricity In Our Homes - Gymnastics (4AD) / Threatmantics - Little Bird (Double Six/Domino)
3/5
By: Liam Manley
Debutants for their respective labels, Electricity In Our Homes and Threatmantics offer more intrigue than their rubbish names would suggest.
Bursting out like an epileptic on fire, EIOH A-side 'Gymnastics' luxuriates in a breakneck blast of art-prank no-wave. Much mugging, gurning and goonery ensues as the song contorts itself through Fall-ish faltering breakdowns and kick-starts. The garage rattle of the lead track, however, is tempered somewhat by the calmer exterior of B-side 'Motorbike'. Sweeter in sentiment and (slightly) less self-conscious, this ode to a 'groovy' little Honda exudes a ramshackle, if knowing, charm. The three-way vocals are a smorgasbord of post-punk reference, from the Wreckless Eric innocence of guitarist Charles Boyer to drummer Paul Linger's Colin Newman-esque deadpan and the equally stoic contribution of bassist Bonnie Carr. Refugees from the now defunct Too Pure, this limited one-off release on 4AD is well worth tracking down.
Less goofing, but equally as playful, Threatmantics' lead track 'Little Bird' (BUY DOWNLOAD) opens with an inviting see-saw viola phrase and minimal ho-down thump-tap. The polite melody of the verse is soon swapped for a neatly sculpted cacophony focused around the viola, now over-driven and blurred. They repeat the trick a few times before the song dissipates into, well, nothing much at all. Things dip further with B-side 'Sum Sum', a song mostly redolent of the bitter stomp of Sons And Daughters circa Repulsion Box, albeit minus the lyrical snarl and sinister edge. Faced with the opportunity to thrust their hands into your underwear, it seems the two-thirds Welsh, one-third English trio would prefer a light hug and peck goodnight. Perhaps next time might be more exciting than this brief flirtation. Or perhaps it was never meant to be.
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