Industrial Strength, by Phil Wilson (Double 7" on Slumberland)

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This record left our Brian feeling happy.

A double 7" on Slumberland next from oldie indie hero Phil Wilson, formerly of C86ers The June Brides. 'Industrial Strength' is a covers EP of old Krautrock and Industrial songs rendered in a minimal Sarah records style! I'm gonna review it briefly and randomly. 'It's a Rainy day, Sunshine Girl' is all repetitive scratchy jangle over a drum machine with very quietly intoned lyrics, almost muffled. It sounds like a nervous Brilliant Corners demo, really charming and deliciously out of step with all todays hideous hair rock and poseur indie chancers. 'What Happens...Happens' is more introverted jangle over a drum machine, Kraftwerks's 'Neon lights' is flecked with a Ukelele (?) and has the most appealing poppy strum about it, a really, really sweet tune. I'm so glad that people are still making "the old music" like this, there's an absolute purity to it. 'United' is the Throbbing Gristle cover and sounds like early Field Mice! This is the only one where his meek vocals are particularly audible but no mind, this is a heartwarming tribute by a respected fringe artist to other fringe artists who influenced him on his quiet journey through the years. Indispensable for the greying John Peel acolyte in everyone!