music reviews

::: Vocabularinist ::: "hasznasznisznasz"

+ + + psychedelic-rock-collages + + +

This album is a real treat. In a past issue of B.P. zine I reviewed a free Vocab tape which was basically, well, collaged noises & really only for the extra triple hard-core amongst us. This CD, however, sees them presenting their most polished and interesting side, some of which I'd heard previously on compilations.

The best way I can think of to describe the Vocabs is as the Australian lovechild of the Butthole Surfers and the late 1960s. Those who may have heard Melbourne's 'Frankie Death & the Photon Belt' (reviewed last issue) will, if you're a fan of that project, enjoy this thoroughly too - why they're both on the same label now - Subversive Records (run by the Evil Ernie who is also behind 'The Oppenheimer Project' - see review). Anyway, back to the Vocabs, lots of trippy and offbeat sound bites merge in with a variety of grungey and zany tripped-out songs.

There's heaps more in it when you listen with headphones. Sounds like they use everything from a vocal-drums-bass-guitar-band line-up with saxophone through to drum machines and synths, radio samples, tape loops and tonnes more. My favourite tracks are presently "Ballad of Multiple Phobias" which is high-paced guitar and brass driven punk (and millions of times better than anything like this that Radio JJJ would play... Actually if the Vocabs adopted whatever the current fashionable teeny-bop image look is, I think JJJ would play this, or perhaps it is just a little bit too out there & interesting for their playlists, alas...) and "Johnny had a low sperm count" which the intro explains is the band's tribute to "johnny" as every band has to have a song about "johnny" (Queen, Chuck Berry, Men At Work all spring to mind... I guess, if I ever want credibility, I'd better get my music projects into line too, huh?). Track 7, titled "a) K-Nineteen b) 10 seconds of violence" is another favourite - very cathartic harrowing stuff! :-) "Death of the Caterpillar" is very educational stuff, it pacified my deep concerns about what happens to caterpillars....

Look, it's packed full with goodies, if you like the Butthole Surfers, trippy psychedelic music, do yourself and favour and just go and get this! Plus you get a chunky little booklet with it too. 16 tracks (most with multiple parts) over 66 minutes.

Available for $10 from PO Box 341 Fivedock, NSW, 2046 Australia and/or from the Subversive Records address (see review for 'The Oppenheimer Project') E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Web: http://www.vocabularinist.com/