Various Artists - Shock Rock (Wall of Sound)
3/5
By: Michael Cragg
What with the Klaxons turning out to be more than just the new Test Icicles, it seems 'new rave' or 'punk funk' or 'electroclash' or 'shock rock' (as it is here), may stick around longer then many expected. This could be down to the fact that its musical umbrella is so all encompassing as detailed on the press release. Apparently any guitar band that uses synths, or has live bass mixed with samplers, or cowbells with drum machines can claim to be part of any of the above genres. In short, no one really knows what to call it and who cares anyway? As long as there are some neon clothes and asymmetrical haircuts then it's part of the 'scene', OK?
Ignoring the whiff of Nathan Barley may be difficult, but there's no denying that most of the tracks on this Wall Of Sound compiled album are thrillingly dumb. Queen of the scene must surely be Beth Ditto, whose band The Gossip provide the pummelling, Bush-baiting 'Standing In The Way Of Control'. Critical darlings CSS display their sense of humour on the brilliantly naïve 'Let's Make Love And Listen To Death From Above'. Other highlights come from relative veterans Zoot Woman ('Grey Day') and Soulwax with a turbo-charged version of 'NY Excuse'.
For such a relatively new scene it's weird that some obvious forbearers are missing, bands such as The Rapture and LCD Soundsystem, although the former are here in all but name, with Friendly Fires, Shakes and Sunshine Underground all doing an impressively accurate attempt at their twitching, bass-heavy mix of punk funk (insert any other genre you wish here). Despite these lapses into pastiche, 'Shock Rock' is an entertaining blast of visceral rock music with a dash of electronica and some beaten up keyboards. It won't last of course, but for now it's providing enough dumb fun to keep us happy.
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