Loverman - Crucifiction

Our review
Customer reviews
Press release

4...according to our Brett on Thu 27 Nov, 2008.

You've got to worry when a band not using Myspace is a unique selling point. I mean, fair dos and that but going on about it like you're well clever sort of undoes all your cool points doesn't it? At least Loverman seem like a reasonable enoough proposition, kicking out dirty scuzziness without seeming horribly forced like the recent Primal Scream stuff or (god forbid) Juliette and The Licks, reminding me a bit of old Doncaster nutjobs Groop Dogdrill which is always nice. The singer's doing quite a good Mark Lanegan too. I've just noticed the pun on 'Crucifiction' though - Muslims believe the crucifixion's a fabrication, don't they.. I wonder if there's some sort of political message in here that I can't be arsed to find because I'm a rubbish reviewer. It's alright really, this.

It's not often that a band who were not only yet to release anything, but didn't

even have their own amplifiers, are taken on by famed collaborator and favoured Nine Inch Nails producer Atticus Ross (Bomb the Bass, 12 Rounds) to mix their debut single (via e-mail) on the other side of the world.

These three young protégés from Hampshire have truly bucked the trend of the 21st century, by choosing not to start a Myspace page and are dead set on building a real reputation, through time, and through effort. In any respect what Loverman were going to garner, was going to come by earning it, by staunchly refusing to get caught up in any transient scene or fickle hype.

Along the way, the NIN camp wasn't the only source of excitement,

with Loverman starting to syringe themselves in to the brains of audiences at any venue that would take them. Their early incendiary live shows soon reaping them support slots with everybody from the likes of The Raincoats and ex-Bad Seeds Gallon Drunk to Mick Jones himself.

Taking inspiration from the writings of Georges Battaile they began exploring the subjects of sex, death and religion. Loverman aim for fantastic

and ethereal, yet do so with passion rather than pretense. Soaked in

sleaze and grunge, they are set to take their place amongst their fallen idols, in the darkest, dankest, underbelly of pop.

Their debut single is the harrowing trans-Atlantic outcome of Loverman spending a single night recording in Winchester, and Atticus Ross spending a single night mixing in Los Angeles. The record speaks

for itself.

4...according to simon.

I bought this record for the artwork alone and as my mother always taught me to judge a book by it's cover i thought i was on to a winner with this one! even though i would have liked it to be more esoteric and less rock song by numbers i think this lives up to it's sexy gothic imagery, surprisingly catchy, nice and aggressive but maybe a little forced. it's like eighties matchbox and QOTSA doing billy idol in Seattle circa 1992, which is no bad thing. i'll be interested to see what happens next with this band. crap name though.

Rating: 4 out of 5

So, what do you think? Best reviewer each month gets £10 off their next order!