ARTIST: Park Attack
TITLE: Half Past Human
LABEL: Ba Da Bing Records
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 222kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 35m total
RELEASE DATE: 2006-03-12
RIP DATE: 2006-02-25
Track List
----------
1. They, "which Is Worst?" 3:27
2. The Slow Clap 2:38
3. The Racket 2:21
4. Toes 4:58
5. Blood At Both Ends 2:55
6. Hot Dog 2:57
7. Beak As Tool 3:57
8. Wolf (Poof!) 1:50
9. The Glider 1:59
10. The Forgetter 4:36
11. Boo Hoo! 3:38
Release Notes:
http://www.parkattack.co.uk
http://www.badabingrecords.com
New Noise, alt rock band Park Attack riotously deliver their debut release on an
unsuspecting general public.
On the press release for Half-Past Human, the first full length album from
rocksters Park Attack, their music is described as 'a wild mix of stomp rock,
slop punk and no wave intensity'. Just what the fuck does any of that mean? No
wave intensity? Slop punk? Have I gone to sleep and woken up inside an
MTV/NME/Guardian wet dream? Its not like the old days, now is it. The days when
musical genre descriptions we're rationed so they could be used cleverly against
Hitler as part of the war effort. Anyway, that said, I am always eager for
musicians to push the boundaries wherever possible so maybe we shouldn't judge
Park Attack too harshly. These eleven tracks build on the Last Drop at Hideout
EP release from last year and will usher in a frantic period of touring for the
band. Indeed, it is clear from listening to this album that Park Attack would be
an exciting band to watch live but it is unclear that this has really
transferred particularly well into an album listen.
Their sound is intended to be raw and rugged, but at points this can drift
toward the shambolic. On Slow Clap, the frantic electronic noises and stripped
down drum beat work reasonably well until the band crank up the tempo and then
it feels a bit like listening to a crap band jamming. The music is interesting
though, with the clever use of synthesised bleeps and whirs over driving guitar
and bass lines. Indeed, on reflection, the album seems in actual fact to grow in
maturity as the track-list unfolds. However, what really will sway this album to
either the good or the bad, is Rob Churm's vocals. Ranging from a ranty mutter
to a wailing scream, his vocal for me often feels a bit like the band have
grabbed some tramp off the street and asked him to sing over their music.
In a live environment, these slight rough edges can work to their advantage but
I do feel that in an album, these make the music feel a little amateurish.
Although, tracks such as the slower blues leading to a building crescendo of
sound in Blood at Both Ends, the epic atmosphere and well placed electronic
siren of The Gilder and mercifully instrumental The Forgetor with its punchy
bass and darker mood do show the potential of Park Attack. They have forged
their own sound which will appeal to many with its intensity but it is important
that this is matched by a musical maturity which at present, this album lacks.
Nevertheless, if you like your rock stomping, your punk sloppy and your
intensity to have no wave, then this could be the album for you!