VAZ - DEMONSTRATIONS IN MICRONESIA (LOAD 033)

I HAVE SUBTLY ALLUDED TO A CONNECTION BETWEEN LOAD RECORDS AND VENERABLE NOISE ROCK LABEL AMPHETAMINE REPTILE ("AMREP") AND HERE IT IS IN BLACK AND WHITE. VAZ CONTAIN FORMER MEMBERS OF AMREP BAND HAMMERHEAD, PLUCKED FROM THEIR MINNEAPOLIS ORIGINS AND DUMPED HEADLONG INTO BROOKLYN WHERE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE IS ALL LCD SOUNDSYSTEM AND COCAINE TRASH LITTERING THE STREETS.

ACTUALLY I THINK THIS IMAGE IS MISLEADING AS THEY SOUND LIKE THEY WERE A DUO ON THIS RECORD. THIS ISN'T A DUO LIKE LIGHTNING BOLT WHERE THE SONGS EMERGED OUT OF JAMS AND HAMMERING ON THEMES.  YOU CAN IMAGINE THE GUITARIST/SINGER SAYING "I GOTTA RIFF IT GOES LIKE THIS" AND THEN THEY ATTACH IT TO ANOTHER ONE. KINDA LIKE A REGULAR BAND.

I SAY THIS NOT AS CRITIQUE BUT OBSERVATION. THEY HAVE SOME COOL TRICKS AND USE OF PEDALS AND TECHNIQUES AND GENERAL DYNAMICS. I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE IF YOU'RE GOING THE SONG-ROUTE WITH GUITAR AND DRUMS THEN IT'S EASY TO WEAR OUT YOUR WELCOME. BUT I THINK VAZ ACTUALLY DO AN ADMIRABLE JOB FOR THE MOST PART HERE. THE BEST BITS ARE LIKE THE BEGINNING OF NO WOMAN/NO CRY AND FORGOTTEN CLASSIC WHERE IT DOES THAT TRICK OF SEPARATING OUT THE BASS AND TREBLE SO IT SOUNDS LIKE A BIGGER BAND.

THESE ARE *SONGS* OF A BROADLY INDIE-ROCK SENSE. THERE'S NOISE ROCK AND POST-PUNK IN THERE. BUT REALLY IT IS INDIE ROCK OF THE LATE 80S SENSE IE. DERIVED FROM HARDCORE BUT MORE SONGLY. YOU COULD IMAGINE THESE PLAYING WITH UNWOUND OR SOMETHING. I LIKE UNWOUND (WASN'T LEAVES TURN INSIDE YOU THIS YEAR AS WELL?) SO THIS IS A THUMBS UP FROM ME.