CD Review: zxspecky – Pseudo-Intellectual Pop for Retards

Zspecky – Psycho-Intellectual Pop For Retards
Review by Dylan McArdle

In my collection of local music CDs, some of obscurest releases rank amongst my favourites – like Anodyne 500’s “Built for Speed, Not Comfort” or Lowdown’s “The Green EP“. Sadly, I don’t think zxspecky’s “Psuedo-Intellectual Pop for Retards” will ever join that company.

The first thing that grabs me with this CD is that it really sounds like an amateur recording, the first thing that came to my mind in comparison was Love Camp 7’s “Chicha” tape of years ago. The quality’s not THAT bad (because that was recorded on a home computer), I guess we’ve just been spoilt with some top notch local releases this year.

The CD itself has ten tracks and in true punk fashion they are (except for the last track) under two minutes in length. So it’s all short and to the point. Ironically, the longest (and last) track on the album “Pete’s Manual” is the best and is somewhat a cut above the rest.

I’d be inters ted to know what artists influenced Zxspecky as there’s a hint of (the already mentioned) Love Camp 7 and track 3 “Up Yours” reminds me very much of Jed Whitey. But unlike the two bands aforementioned there’s not that trademark ‘tongue-in-cheek’ humor that both were remembered for.

While I heard better releases, I’ve also heard worse ones. The CD’s OK, there’s come catchy guitars (especially on track 9 “17”) and I like the faster drum beats as on track 7 “Rock n Roll”. But the CD is quite repetitive (though I guess that could be said about the whole punk genre) and I don’t think it’d rate very high on anyone’s long-term playlist.

Cd Review: Halogen

Halogen – Building on the Edge of the Sky
Review by Susan Clark

Building on the Edge of the Sky has been released for about a year now, but seeing as it is such a beautifully crafted album, I just couldn’t go past it. This is the second album release from halogen, following on from where Save the Ones You Love left off. Jasmine Yee’s voce is amazing- fragile yet powerful.

Although it is their second album, this release heralds something of a first for halogen- collaboration. 15 Perth electronic artists have produced a song each to provide an eclectic mix. The music itself could best be described as gothic pop. It’s not quite pop despite the catchy tunes and poppy beats, there is too much darkness, angst and ache.

Several songs have been singled out and have featured on RTR and JJJ, but each song has been finely crafted so that combined they meld together perfectly to create a seamless soundscape. It’s awe-inspiring given 15 produces had their fingers in the pot.

Building on the Edge of the Sky is a landscape of emotion, of arriving at bitter truths, but seeing that glimmer of hope that perhaps all will be good and lovely again, perhaps sometime soon. It is about love dying, love rekindled, hope in love, and being hopelessly in love. It’s all about the lovin’. The standout tracks on the album for me were Collide and Neon Lights.

The only mix I didn’t like was of the last song, Innocent. The song was perhaps overproduced with the mix and beats overly dominating. All of the songs have been mixed with a subtle touch, you know it’s been done, but it is generally supporting and enhancing the beautiful tunes. Innocent isn’t so subtle, and I found it jarring to listen to, waking me out of my halogen induced dream.

Building on the Edge of the Sky is ethereal music guided by a beautifully lush voice, (Yee’s). It’s an absolutely outstanding release.

www.halogenworld.com