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Review: This Can’t Be My 21st Century Very rarely do bands like Psirens come along; 5 intelligent, good looking lads from Reading, whose main aim is to replicate broken machinery if it knew how to play rock and roll, all the while maintaining their punk sensibilities (as displayed in the homemade artwork to this ep). This 4-song ep, the band’s second, showcases a shocking range of styles and sounds and proudly wears its experimentalism on its sleeve. Opening track, live favourite “Oh! My Mistake”, is the most frenzied, tuneful computer crash you’ll have heard since Primal Scream’s “XTRMNTR”; full of spastic synths, it veers from frenzied punk rock into a weirdly funky break and back again, all within 2.5 mins The second track, the moody “If Looks Don’t Kill…” takes all the best bits of Mansun’s “Six” album and condenses them into 3 fucked up minutes of total madness. “Spun (A Pop Song)” does exactly what it says on the tin; the type of short, venomous and melodic tune that Kinesis would kill to write. The ep’s highlight is its final track, “A Kiss”, which starts off as a haunting gothic ballad (which really shows how great singer Adam’s voice is), before mutating into a disturbed wig-out of a chorus, during which several keyboards appear to be beating the shit out of each other. So there it is; one of the most vital demo ep’s I’ve heard all year – brutal, beautiful and completely off the wall. This is the sort of thing Psirens should be making around album #2. Brilliant. 9/10
Review by Alex Wisgard for www.heathenangel.co.uk
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Review: "Three track CD." ("Oh! My Mistake", "Trust Network", "A Kiss") Describing themselves as "Synth rock trash" they pretty much hit the nail on the head. Plenty of rock 'n 'roll guitar is joined by mad synth sounds for opening track "Oh! My Mistake", giving us something with a commercial edge reminiscent of SSS. "Trust network" offers more crazy goings on with big beats and crass vocals - the guitar is real edgy too. Final track "A kiss" is a twisted, mixed up affair - even a hint of Splodgeness abounds creeps in - but this is a deep track in its own weird way. Well - check 'em out and judge for yourself.
Review from www.neon-promotions.co.uk
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Live review: Hope & Anchor, Islington (2/12/03) Excellent five piece Psirens begin tonites rock mayhem - and this really is a fine band. With two guitars and keyboard, as well as bass drums and vocals, their sound is always full, and their dark, trashy edge never fails to entertain. Kind of trash synth/guitar rock with a wide variety of influences from punk to glam and more besides - and with strong songs that have plenty of hooks and riffs. These guys put everything into their performance and are well worth catching. Review from www.neon-promotions.co.uk
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