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the Krays demo, Electric Frankenstein Conquers the World, Niblick Henbane--Happy Happy Oi Oi

These recordings are reviewed together for some sonic reasons, and because I bought them recently at shows.

1. Go see live music, no wait--go see good happy happy locals play. 2. Find the table (easy) or find the people with music to sell you (more difficult, as it requires sometimes that you approach a band member or other show attendee who looks knowledgeable and friendly, to direct you, which can be a bit challenging, but it will give you a chance to work on shyness issues). 3. Keep your money in circulation, buy a gift of music.
 
The Krays demo casette I got from a couple of cute punk girls was very beat up so I hoped it would play, but my fears that it was played out already were alleviated somewhat by a sticker yeah! inside. The sound is a bit murky even for me, but a couple of listens got me past that to the music. Oh yes the music, its obvious that the songs are coming from a good place (Brooklyn, a meaningful, righteous place).
Electric Frankenstein begins their world conquest with humorous cheek and graphic redundancies. The CD is able to translate that relentless fierce live sound adequately. Unlike the goofy graphic imagery the EF sound isn't about playfulness or experimentation, but more about knowing exactly what it is you like (and you know you like it hard).
 
Niblick Henbane, Happy Happy Oi Oi, indeed. This music does make me happy in a bouncy, grinning, fuck the uptight neighbors kind of way . They should put out a record for children (just change some of the lyrics) instead of songs like Crime with a Gun, I Like it Dead, Sex Offender, and multiple blow job references. . . . No I'm wrong, I take it back, it's the frisson, that delicious pairing of the catchy/hummable with black humor and dark thoughts (and xxtra masculine vocals) thats just so perfect. Yes as close to perfection as you'd wanna get without offending the gods.
[NM 7/27/96]  
Niblick Henbane, Happy Happy Oi Oi, Headache Records, P.O. Box 204, Midland Park, NJ 07432
Electric Frankenstein Conquers the World, Nesak International: http://www.nesak.com/kado/  
 
 
This review was hours old when I got the feedback that I didn't write about what the music "sounded" like. I'm sorry but I'm incapable of writing like that. In the geneology class (this band by that band out of that band) I was smoking in the bathroom and not taking notes. I'm not up on my isms and cores enough to not get lost. But my real intention was to write about the experience of acquiring new music (and a little bit of why) and the experience of listening to it. Like when I'm at a show I don't think "oh that guitar sound is just like so and so, and if he tuned it like blah blah blah." I think "oh look at the singer for Electric Frankenstein's eyes, they seem at odds with his body language and words, is he blissful or frightened?" If I'm real lucky I think how I've never quite experienced that sound that way. And what is the music doing to my body, the physical response? My writing history is heavy with performance art, it's the action and emotion that interest me. So I can't tell you exactly where Niblick Henbane fit in the pantheon of oi, I only know they make me dance around my living room with my daughter, and that it makes me happy and sing along. (And I do have it in me to run on about posture and how necks meet shoulders, and work that is art that is a gift in the best sense and work in the best sense too and that is real and palpable like a sweaty arm.) So as not to leave the Krays out of this retro fitting, they sound like oldskool punkrock that is less about studying and copying and more about an internal authenticness. Ok so maybe they have all the influences I enjoy but it doesn't sound simply warmed over.

That said all I really wanted to do was to get some punkrock music on the review page. So 3 thumbs up your ass sissyskull and herbert just say yes.