The Heads - Under Sided

Sweet Nothing SNCD011. 2002

Relentless psychedelic sonic onslaught from Bristol's finest underrated acid freaks. Heavy as a bad trip, sweet as a good one.

I don't know where they find the energy, though Simon Price doesn't expend too much with his spoken vocals. Lazy, but they fit nicely.

I'm worn out.

The Handsome Family - Through The Trees

Loose VJCD105. 1998

They're still midway between the country sound of later work and the backwoods alt-twang of the earlier stuff. This is pretty much the perfect balance, and for me their best album.

Weightless Again was the first HF track I heard, and you'll know why I dug out their other stuff when you hear it. 

"That's why people OD on pills, or jump from the Golden Gate bridge - anything to feel weightless again"

The Handsome Family - Milk and Scissors

Carrot Top SAKI011. 1996

See below. Earlier, not as country, but still tiptop.

"Sometimes I can't wait to come down with cancer, at least then I get to watch TV all day"

The Handsome Family - In The Air

Loose VJCD112. 2000

There's nothing at all wrong with this. A brilliant slice of what would appear, on a casual listen, to be fairly straight-up country. A more intent ear reveals a twisted, dark humour throughout. Brett Sparks has an amazingly smooth baritone, and the pair of them (wife Rennie makes two) are pretty damn fine musicians. Buy this now.

"Darling can't you see? It's only human to want to kill a beautiful thing." 

"Listen to me, butterfly. There's only so much wine you can drink in one life, but it will never be enough to save you from the bottom of your glass."

(Sounds better in a baritone country twang than it looks on screen).

The Hafler Trio - A Thirsty Fish

The Grey Area KUT6. 1994

More of the good stuff.

I'm kind of glad this is the last THT disk on the shelf though. Some music would be nice.

The Hafler Trio and The Sons Of God - Resurrection

Touch TO:22. 1993

Might have been a bit more interesting to have been at the performance this was recorded at - 2 actors, 6 cookers, 6 baths. Where have all the Dada-ists gone?

After a slowish start it gets cracking and is a worthwhile listen, though don't bother to dust off the dancing pumps.

I saw Zbigniew Karkowski play in France a few years back, at a venue in Mulhouse. I'd been drinking wheat beer. The PA caught fire due to the extreme frequencies he was pumping through it at high volume. I'd not witnessed that before. Most amusing.

The Hafler Trio - All That Rises Must Converge

The Grey Area KUT5. 1994

At the more interesting end of THT spectrum. A reissue of 1986's The Sea Org and Brain Song eps. Familiar territory, with treated field recordings, cut-ups and drones, but this is the McKenzie I like. Lots of slowly building soundscapes, sudden loud bursts and flipping instantly between seemingly unrelated material which eventually makes some kind of sense.

Luverlee stuff.

Reptilicus and The Halfler Trio - Designer Time

Staalplaat STCD068. 1994

Utterly pointless.