Classic Reviews from the Leicester Bangs Print Archive...

Goldblade – Hometurf (Ultimate)
With these 50 minutes of shit-hot rollercoaster rock ‘n’ roll, Gold Blade kick down the doors and proclaim their genius to the world. Then they torch the joint.

In this time of political shenanigans, singer John Robb owns the sound bite, spitting out the message into the faces of non-believers, and then sticking around to rub it in with a size ten brothel creeper. This is punk rock in its truest form as the band swagger through a set that oozes pure unadulterated exuberance. Think The Clash and the Pistols, think John Sinclair and the MC5, think Black Grape with big fuck-off quiffs, think the Dolls jamming with The Specials and Eek-A-Mouse or, alternatively, stop wasting time thinking up know-nothing comparisons and go buy a copy instead.
LB (1997)

Tarnation – Mirador (4ad)
Tarnation have made a soundtrack for a western that will never be made, which is a shame, because judging it just by the music, it would have been a great movie – though maybe a little slow.

“Mirador” distils the songs and atmospheres from the previous album “Gentle Creatures” to produce an incredibly heady brew. Reminiscent at times to the Cowboy Junkies or The Walkabouts at their most gothic (small “g”), Tarnation has the voice of Paula Frazer to elevate them into another division. Indeed, her voice is absolute perfection and shines like a bright star in this slightly more upbeat collection. Let “Mirador” into your house and your life will be a little better.
LB (1997)

Paul K & The Weathermen – Love Is A Gas (Alias)
“Love Is A Gas”, Paul K’s eighth album, is always an interesting listen. Produced by Mo Tucker, the songs are more accessible than usual, though style wise we go from the phrasing of Townes Van Zandt to the song structure of UK Decay via the pop sensibilities of Matthew Sweet and Stevie Wonder. The latter comes courtesy of a cover of “Jesus Children Of America”.

Paul K pretty much wears his heart on his sleeve. His experiences of drug addiction and life on the streets regularly come through in his lyrics, though they don’t drag the music down. “Love Is A Gas” is a good introduction to the work of Paul K.
LB (1997)

GusGus – Polydistortion (4ad)
When the nine members of GusGus got together to make an art-house movie it seemed that their multitude of talents could also be guided in other directions. GusGus was the result and their debut “Polydistortion” is a sophisticated, though slightly sinister slice of post-Bristol trip-hop.

Hailing from Reykjavik, probably Europe’s coolest pop capital city (in more ways than one), they have a lot to live up to and they just about carry it off. “Polydistortion” has some fine moments, the epic “Cold Breath ‘79” and gorgeous “Why” are prime examples, though there’s a nagging feeling that this is merely a rehearsal for greater things to come.

Fans of the Bristol sound will inevitably lap this up like nectar from a Norse god, and perhaps we have the beginnings here of the definitive sound of young Iceland.
LB (1997)