No Ripcord
Contents:
[News] [Reviews] [Demo Reviews] [Live Reviews] [Band of the Fortnight] [Classic Album] [General Failures]
This weekend has been Glastonbury weekend and if you live in the UK you've probably seen plenty of it on TV. The next major festival is T in the Park which takes place on July 10th and 11th at Balado near Perth and Kinross in Scotland. Next issue will have a lengthy T in the Park preview. For further details check out the Festival Lineups Page.
Primal Scream have finished recording their next album, and it is currently being mixed. It is set for release early next year, with a single to come out this Autumn.
This months No Ripcord Poll has finished. When asked if you would miss the Verve, 54% of you voted yes and 46% of you voted no. There's a new poll up so go there and vote!
Fungus headlined Carlisle's "Free in the Park" Festival on June 13th. No Ripcord were there and got an interview with the Swedish band. Read it here
Singles:
Shed Seven - Disco Down
I went down to get the post this morning hoping for some nice CD's or tapes and I found something that looked promising. I opened the bulky looking letter and to my horror, a tape of this fell out. Attached to the tape was a post-it note saying "Heard this track by Shed Seven. Thought you might like it. What do you reckon?" Well they thought wrong. It's awful - From the front cover with that idiot of a lead singer doing a disco pose, to the absolutely shite song inside. What's worrying is that somebody "thought I'd like it". Anyways now I have to get rid of it. So a little competition for you:
Write in no less than 20 words why you like Shed Seven and send it to fanzine@zensearch.net. The best answer wins the tape. Remember to include your name and address so we can send you the "prize". Couldn't be easier...
Shed Seven are playing T in the Park.
Lowcraft - Fun With Flashlights
Without a doubt, Single of the Week. Forget Gay Dad and all that industry hype - this Portland based 5-piece are a far more interesting prospect. Even the b-side to this track, "Trembling", wipes the floor with "To Earth With Love" etc. Track it down (they're signed to Disco Volante) and buy it.
Muse - Uno
The first thing I noticed about this CD was the fact that it was see-through. I was quite impressed by that so the song had a fair bit to live up to. And at first listen I thought it was a bit average - just the sort of thing you'd expect from a band with an average age of 20, who like Radiohead. But to dismiss Muse as Radiohead copyists would be unfair. The song grows by the listen and this three-piece show alarming potential. One to watch out for.
Muse are playing T in the Park on the Second Stage on Sunday.
Albums:
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication (Warner Bros.)
Having just released their new album 'Californication' the Chili Peppers are stronger than ever and I am glad they have finally come back after a distinct four year absence, and back they are with a vengeance!
The Chili Peppers line up has changed regularly through the years but now the original 'BloodSugarSexMagik' team are back together with John Frusciante reinstated on guitar. Definite links have been suggested by some between Californication and BloodSugarSexMagik such as Emit Remmus (Bad Brains) and Road Trippin (Kansas). However the Chili's do not fail to break new ground and Anthony Kiedis has exchanged his wailing rapping for some more subdued but real pipe power (has he been practising in the shower?!) Flea is still a fret thumping master and never fails to please with tracks such as 'Parallel Universe' and 'Around the World'.
Although Californication is an altogether calmer and melodic album than BloodSugarSexMagik and more recently One Hot Minute it still has the regular stereo pumping crowd pleasers (i.e. 'Otherside' and 'Get On Top')
Keep an eye out for these guys touring England towards the end of the year, they are also headlining Reading which is definitely a show to see!!
It is always great to see a band you haven't seen before. I went to this Bis gig, only knowing the singles, but hoping to be impressed. Indeed i was! Bis came on stage just after 11:00pm and introdused themsleves to the audience with a few bars of 'No Scrubs' by TLC sung by Johnny and Steve, it was playing on the tv screen at the back of the room!
They jumped (literally!) straight into 'Action and Drama' and from that moment on the fun didn't stop. These three little Scots seem to have an unlimited supply of energy that is so infectious that you can't stop smiling and dancing as long as they are playing that addictive pure pop:) Most of their set was from the 'Social Dancing' CD, highlights for me were Shopaholic, Action & Drama, and The Hit Girl. Mostarr of the 1st album impressed me greatly, and they left their 'hit' Starbright Boy for the 1 song encore.
It was a relatively shortish set, but you couldn't have asked for anything more from them. And they all seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the crowd! Manda was worried about her voice not being up to its best, but to us it was as sweet as ever. Johnny Disco and Sci-Fi Steve, those boys can dance!! I definitley picked up some spiffy new guitar playing/pop dancing moves, thanks guys!!
It is true, i am now one of the converted, 'social dancing' has not left my stereo since i rushed out and bought it the very next day. I love BIS!!!
This review was written by Kerrie Geier. Kerrie writes her own fanzine and you can e-mail her for details of that.
Reef are a four piece band from the West Country who formed in 1993. Reef consist of frontman Gary Stringer, Kenwyn House on guitars, Jack Bessant on bass and Dominic Greensmith on drums.
Having submitted their demo, the "Purple Tape", Reef were signed up immediately by Sony and spent the next year touring the UK, playing almost every small venue in the country. By the summer of 1994, the band commenced work on their debut album, "Replenish" which was released on June 19th in the UK, with much success. A hectic summer programme was to follow, with the band playing the Glastonbury, Phoenix, Reading and T in the Park festivals.
Autumn 1995 saw the band taking up high profile support slots with The Rolling Stones and Soundgarden. Reef concluded 1995 with a tour of the US, Europe, and a sell out UK tour.
In 1996 Reef embarked upon a tour of Japan and Australia before recording tracks for their next album, "Glow", in a small Sydney recording studio. This second album was released in the UK in early 1997, topping the album charts.
From this point onwards, Reef were a recognised band in the UK, with a wide fanbase. The release of their third album, "Rides", and their appearance at several high profile festivals this summer can only strengthen their reputation.
Up until now Reef have released two singles from "Rides": The hit single "I've Got Something to Say" hinting at a more commercial direction, and the somewhat disappointing "Sweety". The musical content of "Rides", is however unlike their previous work. Reef have matured a great deal since 1993 - now they do have something to say.
If you've listened to Joy Division before-even for 10 seconds-then you don't need to read this. You'll have either hated it, or loved it and bought this and it's predecessor "Unknown Pleasures" already.
On the other hand, if you haven't then...then you haven't listened to one of the most emotional, claustrophobic and brilliant albums ever. Think of those once alternative day trippers Radiohead and the Manics. The debt they owe to Joy Division cannot be measured.
Starting with the disturbing "Atrocity Exhibition" (never have guitars sounded so traumatised), it takes hold and totally refuses to cease on it's journey through the human psyche until the fade-out of the final track "Decades" by which you find yourself empty of emotion. This is a record which can understand your every thought, feeling and experience.
Lyricist Ian Curtis paints a picture of a world devoid of any hope, one which has placed him through incredible pain ("I'm ashamed of what I've been put through/I'm ashamed of the person I am"). He committed suicide days before the release of "Closer". Think of the lyrics of Cobain and Thom Yorke. Then magnify those emotions ten fold and you might get close. Maybe.
The band themselves provided the ideal musical backdrop for the singers lyrical musings. Guitarist Barney Sumner played guitars distorted to hell and on "The Eternal", piano from heaven, Peter Hook played his bass like no other, providing the band their melody and drummer Stephen Morris kept the sound from losing control with chillingly tight drum patterns.
You'll either love it, or hate it but in an age of manufactured music for the masses, this is one of the true alternatives for the individual. It's as real as it gets kids.
The classic albums section is written by Peter Mattinson. Feel free to contact him with any opinions or comments.
Well here we are again the general failures section, however this week the failures aren't so general !! In fact they are the phenomenon known lovingly as Shit, err I mean Shed 7. Believe me in no way are we trying to victimise this York foursome, however they constantly manage to fall into our laps as such eligible nominees for this section. Bad luck hey? And so we have decided to compile a list of their social and aural guffs. Read on.
1. The first "failing" we brought to your attention was Rick Witter's unfortunate incident of mistaken identity. After enjoying a night out Rick decided to walk home, however a disgruntled local mistook him for a man who had previously beaten in his mate, and decided to even the score. "NOT SO HARD NOW YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN!!?" he cried before giving poor Rick the beating of his pathetic life. Also, to add insult to (grievous) injury the irate man pinched his shoes before making off into the night.
2. Greatest Hits (what hits?!) "Going for Gold" (but will probably go home with a certificate) was Shed 7's next error. When you're just plain awful releasing a greatest hits album is stupidity itself. If you can't be bothered writing new material, re-hashing and re-releasing old bollocks should not even be considered - perhaps it's time to call it a day huh?
3. This next incident is subtly linked to number 2. Not being famous and with no-one really giving a toss about them, Shed's drummer decided to stir the shit as an indirect method of gaining publicity. To cut a long story short he basically said that all Female drummers were rubbish and "None of them can match my talent" - what an absolute dickhead!! I think Caroline of Fungus sums him up the best: "He is definitely a Wanker".
4. "Disco Down" - The guitarist, Paul Banks, audaciously claimed that "Disco Down is a Classic single!" What an absolute pile of arse he talks!! No way will it become a classic, more likely, it's on a one way ticket to the bargain bin.
