The Pheromoans - Bar Rock EP (12" vinyl)

The Pheromoans I saw at a gig in a room above infamous scuzzy Gang of Four-endorsed boozer The Fenton last year, I was excited about seeing them, so much so I got v. drunk and faintly recall thoroughly enjoying myself but little else. I think their sound has evolved beyond the shambly garage they were initially hawking to become this curious demented hybrid of possessed off-kilter thrill pop, anti-rock and tub-thumping scuzz 'n' stumble. Imagine early Fall, Television Personalities, Swell Maps, Seattle's wonderful Intelligence and ex-Country Teaser The Rebel rolled into one jerky, sardonic, multi-decker rock sandwich and yr somewhere near the mark. Brittle minimalism meets cheap wayward keyboards, wonky monotone DIY vocals, sharp edged chiming guitars, stunted drums and wibbly bass strokes to create a very English sounding racket.

On 'Finsbury Sound' see if you, like me, imagine a really youthful Teardrop Explodes falling down the stairs after mixing huge gobfuls of mushrooms and lots of cheap whiskey. This is followed by the punkiest track on the album which kinda recalls old little-known 80s Preston weirdos Dandelion Adventure. I adore this kind of sleepy inebriated post-punk, it has character and couldn't care less if you sneer at it's unkempt state. The last track makes me think of Dan Treacy fronting early Disco Inferno before the samplers came to prominence and it is quite amazing in it's stubborn refusal to do anything but meander manically down a grimy, murky 'n' moist alley of its own devising, away from the stars and the lights, staring humorously into the puddles, ignoring it's own tattered blurry reflection. Great stuff, especially for those people who sneer cynically at “chops” and “technicality” like me. That's not them on the (fantastic) sleeve BTW...