NEON KITTENS - LIKE BEING KILLED

Another dose of angular pussified incandescence from a unit that I have donated time to on 7 previous occasions.  I try and space out my considerations but the band just keep on producing.  As per, I won't go into another introductory palaver, I shall get to that which matters, the sonic overflow.

'Enough Of You' is inordinately angular and pervasive with a mesmeric nefariousness to unsettle those in possession of the most queasy sonic stomachs.  I am made of sterner stuff these days after several rollercoaster riff and rolls on the great carriage deemed unstable for the general public.  I hop on board and find myself gently juddered and jerked off whilst in an acid trance of troublesome tuneage that is once again, the all absorbing slippery eel. As I put the cranial matter into overdrive I get drained, strained and left in a heap dumbfounded.  This is below par for the band and just lacks any true magnetising accents and acoustic objects of attraction.  'Like Being Killed' jumps in and is typical fare from a band with many weavings manifested and a meandering modus operandi that just never seems unable to decide on an ultimate destination.  I don't mind this one due to the active bassism but, it lacks any real stand-out snags and is too similar to what the band have already laid down.  Average is my verdict but I may be suffering from an overdose of NK matter.

'She's A Tourist' is the most cloying and gloopy track thus far and, as a result, should get least favour from this assessing git. The subtle noir-esque touches, the lyrical content of loss and misdirection, the strange monochrome tattooings and the overall niggling persuasion that mithers ones neurotransmitters helps make this a creeping grower.  I stand in the midst of the musical sub-melodrama unsure and feeling unsafe but the bands application works here and this off-kilter arrangement has further possibilities.

We stagger into the awaiting spinning silence with a warning left ringing in our head-holes.  'Shooter On A Scooter' is a sharp and shifty piece that bumbles and bounds on 4-wired foundations.  The she-vocals are he-shadowed, the end result is of a shady shadowplay that points the finger at the half-witted gangs and their silly parade to Dooms-ville.  A modern day abstraction that has the assistance of a short running time and an overall uncomplicated arrangement.  

A quartet that, as expected, has that quirked and cracked ceramic feel that radiates a certain fragility and 'on-the-precipice' uncertainty.  I am sure I have said this before but the band have potential untapped and need to throw in some orthodox riffings and real explosive boom-bangs.  I am doing my bit as a conscientious, honest and hopefully constructive fan of noise - does it help, is anybody listening? Aaaggghh!  Stay productive folks.

THE BAKESEYS - DIGGING THRU THE DEMOS

I like The Bakeseys, in case ya didn't know here is some info pilfered from Bandcamp that may clarify things as to what has been and what I am about to tackle -  'January 2025 saw Berkshire 2 tone crew The Bakeseys notch up 35 years together as a band! To celebrate this anniversary we have collected 11 of their earliest recordings for your skanking pleasure!' - and guess who is gonna have a dabble at assessing what transpires? 

So, I expect some real raw-bone two-tone ass shaking here, done with a coolness of tone and a certain retro feel many may well and truly love.  Here's hoping! 'Grass Is Greener' creeps in and soon adopts a real upbeat and positive vibe that sets the foot tapping and the body popping (not literally of course, that would be just horrid).  The premise of the tune is to be a pleasure and a pleasure it is - I know the song, I am trying to come in uninfluenced and fresh - this approach does not dampen the joy I feel at the vibes issued forth.  Smashing stuff.

'Yesterday's Man' is a real skipping sonic shifter with a prolonged delivery that doesn't mar the overall 'get up and jig' encouragement.  Again, the Bakeseys play things simple, old-school and with an obvious absorbed zeal for ska and all its beautiful basic elements.  There is no need to over-elaborate matters when the players know the scene, the script and its effective nuances. There is a determined edge here and a great conviction in the delivery that adds just a touch of extra poundage to the product - I have no complaints and am happy to keep the dancing shoes shuffling.

'Looking For Love' is a pep-laden popper that has a jaunty juiciness that keeps my own rivers of citrus energy flowing.  The keys are sublime, the upstrokes steady and the bass weave cementing.  The vocals are what any long term Bakesey'ed bugger would expect - clear, without fuss and easily joined in with.  An inner switch off gives us time to catch breath and prepare, the tickled digit timbers soon get us ready to roll and we are taken into the backstretch gushing - regular goodness methinks from a band keeping things just right.  'Pickle My Brain' is a real lo-fi escapade that stays beneath the radar and loses some of its impact as a result.  The band are thriving and doing what they do mighty well with a sweet tickle had but, this reviewer is frustrated and likes this band in particular, to showcase their material to their best of their ability.  The key though is that this is a collection of 'demos' so my critical boots are taken off and I slip back into my slippers of understanding - I best say no more, this ain’t as bad as I suggest, it just has finer neighbours of noise all around it.

'Life So Dub' is a competent blend of the reggae-fied and the skanked, all done with an artistically acoustic ear for those intricacies that are unobtrusive, gently disarming and of course, soothingly melodic.  This is one to play over and over, one destined for a 12 inch mix which is really reflective of how this warming resonation has crept under my epidermal layers and injected its persuasive serum.  A delicious under-the-radar shifter this, the muscles are eased, the tension escorted from the building of the body - and replaced by a massaging mover of tip-toeing mastery! 'Days Gone By' is a nostalgia soaked celebration of times more simple headed and with perhaps, less external tension.  This is a real chirpy foot-tapper awash with a feelgood essence not to be escaped.  A reflective piece with a dreamy brass input and a feeling of something lost.  A 'growing up' giddy-reeler that propels itself forward with nothing more than its own relish and inner enjoyment - is there really any more to add - oh yes, excellent stuff.

On we swing, the uplifting accents continue - irresistible stuff tha' knows.  'Open All Hours' is a nippy blighter with a some soothing gumption and a vision-creating verbology that takes me back to a time when cares were fewer, living on the dole commonplace and things were less complex.  The theme soon changes, where did matters go so fuckin' wrong.  Despite many sobering elements once again, the tootsies are forced to twitch, the arse begins to move to some good docu-doofing in that two-tone style executed without unnecessary accoutrements.  'Have You Seen The KGB' is the most back thrown lo-fi episode on the CD and as a result will win favour by those who appreciate real old-skool ska and all its wondrous limitations and simplicities.  This one sounds as though it has been recorded in a honest and unhappening backstreet dive which only the absorbed are aware of.  I do wish more people would remember this kind of shizzle, look at where it is coming from and the whole uncomplicated process and how it still invigorates the noise attentive neurones - it is all rather splendid.

'Trouble And Strife' and man, what creamy brassage welcomes.  This chirpy denier of the old lady comes, has a great cobblestone relationship and moves with such utter confidence,  Questions are asked, answers proffered - you know the score.  One of the bounciest belters in a fine pack of engaging acoustic adornments that I am happy to let dangle from my eavesdropping conkers and begin a new fad in tremble-tastic vibrations.  OK, so my mind is wandering but this tuneage helps me to piss off into areas away from everyday stresses and I am thankful for that.  A real poppet once again, you know, over the years, The Bakeseys have become a minor fave of mine – fact!

The last two, more familiar notifications to my memory banks of chilled rhythm.  'Life So Tuff' is a veritable reclining loafer that is one streetwise cool dude who floats along on smoky emanations and barely touched tones.  Out and about observing the beaten, defeated and cruising along in a very nonchalant manner.  A quality cut that is a memorable moment (aren't they all) with a velvety movement that has an arrangement somewhat smooth, effortless and rather sleek.  Again we seem to fall back into times of yore and times more realistic, both valuable aspects of the Bakes'ed-up output.  We close with the popping and hopping throwback semi-tribute song known as 'Marina'.  Very liberating backstreet jive and vibe keyed cruising calling all to hit the dancefloor for one last time and to give it their best shot.  You can almost envision the skanking guys and gals, the pork pie hats tilted down, focused on the feet and the vibes, absorbed in an all-consuming closure of a lengthy running time that is a pure pleasure.  By this stage if you are still out of step there is no hope.

A joyous collection of many faves in their basic attire and still doing what they do with the utmost gratifying effect.  As I check my website I see that this is the 7th time that I have reviewed The Bakesey's material - with mitt on ticker, I have yet to be disappointed.  Go get this and make sure your collection is loaded and up-to-date.