If
we're to believe Spiderbait themselves they've found themselves
on their new album. If we're to believe our ears they're right!
Spiderbait have always struggled a bit on record. The records have
been engaging and crammed with interest and so entertaining they've
deserved all the success that has come Spiderbait's way. But the
live experience always told you something slightly different, something
more. It was almost a surprise they could make such a complicated
and diverse musical diet sound so free and natural. Truth be known
it was the live shows which ultimately attracted audiences to the
records. Then came success, and you couldn't help but feel that
success and popularity encroached. Their last album, 99's 'Grand
Slam' was the sound of a group wondering where its strengths were.
There is no doubt on 'The Flight Of Wally Funk'. By bringing the
recording sessions "in house" (literally - in Whitt's Melbourne
home) Spiderbait sound like they're having the kind of fun everyone
used to have. From the opening track, the confronting 'Dirty' with
its shouted vocals, Spiderbait establish their thrash pop credentials,
ten years on, still exciting and vibrant. For the second track,
under a guitar and drum barrage, Janet takes over the vocals, and
straight away you know that Spiderbait mean business. In the space
of the first two tracks two of the group's core 'sounds' have come
at us energized and refreshed. Track three is built around a tight
cumputer generated rhythm loop, and you become aware that Spiderbait
has found a way of drawing technology its web rather than the other
way. From there, the journey is fun all the way, Spiderbait at their
creative and entertaining best.
If
we're to believe Spiderbait themselves they've found themselves
on their new album. If we're to believe our ears they're right!
Spiderbait have always struggled a bit on record. The records have
been engaging and crammed with interest and so entertaining they've
deserved all the success that has come Spiderbait's way. But the
live experience always told you something slightly different, something
more. It was almost a surprise they could make such a complicated
and diverse musical diet sound so free and natural. Truth be known
it was the live shows which ultimately attracted audiences to the
records. Then came success, and you couldn't help but feel that
success and popularity encroached. Their last album, 99's 'Grand
Slam' was the sound of a group wondering where its strengths were.
There is no doubt on 'The Flight Of Wally Funk'. By bringing the
recording sessions "in house" (literally - in Whitt's Melbourne
home) Spiderbait sound like they're having the kind of fun everyone
used to have. From the opening track, the confronting 'Dirty' with
its shouted vocals, Spiderbait establish their thrash pop credentials,
ten years on, still exciting and vibrant. For the second track,
under a guitar and drum barrage, Janet takes over the vocals, and
straight away you know that Spiderbait mean business. In the space
of the first two tracks two of the group's core 'sounds' have come
at us energized and refreshed. Track three is built around a tight
cumputer generated rhythm loop, and you become aware that Spiderbait
has found a way of drawing technology its web rather than the other
way. From there, the journey is fun all the way, Spiderbait at their
creative and entertaining best.