Ιn their debut, the Numbers offer an update of late 70's no-wave (particularly James Chance & The Contortions) and synth-punk (particularly Crash Course In Science).
However, the update is limited only to production values, and not to
form. A touch of glam and power-riffing ("Driving Song", "I'm Shy")
liven up the proceedings, while the factory-noise of "Prison Life" is
probably the most significant track here. In the end, however groovy
their spastic vignettes are, you can't help noticing how derivative the
whole thing is. Get it here (updated link).
Echoboy's, Volume Two begins with "Turning On", an Electronic Kraut
neurosis circling around your brain to the point of mental exhaustion.
Then "Telstar Recovery" picks up the scraps and sets in a maniacal orbit
in what can only be described as vital electronic Punk. Anybody who fell in love with Primal Scream's Xtrmntr is gonna love this.
The Dub Techno
"Kelly's Truck", setting in motion an obsessive merry-go-round,
explores this anguish from another perspective. In comparison, the
atmospheric Lounge "Siobhan", despite offering a melancholic tone, is a disappointment. Ditto for the unassuming Electropop "Make The City The Sound".
The escalating theme "Schram And Sheddle 262" is much better, as if an uneasy mixture of Public Image Ltd. circa This Is What You Want.. and an Ennio Morricone spaghetti-western score. On the other hand, "Südwestfunk No. 5" sounds like a softcore version of Big Beat. This hot/ cold shower continues with "Circulation", a twisted Synth Pop with Reggae overtones that conjures images of This Heat produced by Black Uhuru. Not bad at all.
A record which warrants a listen. Get it here (updated link).
