September 19, 1998

Seven Unlucky Sevens

There is an underused reviewing cliche which runs along the lines of, 'Buy this record for a loved one. And then leave 'em.'...

5 / 10 There is an underused reviewing cliche which runs along the lines of, 'Buy this record for a loved one. And then leave 'em.' Your lover expects Luther Vandross. You give them indie dross. The relationship never recovers. This here anti-Valentine compilation CD embraces seven elusive seven-inch EPs released on the admirably stroppy Slampt label between '93 and '95. Unbelievably, this incorporates 44 tracks, most lasting no longer than a minute-and-a-half.

For here we have Indie-Gone-Mad: a north-east-based organisation with mates who aren't afraid to make a thoroughly crappy, yap-happy racket. The music is a cheerily no-go-fi blend of scattershot beats, shouty vocals and swearing, some of which is nearly as exhilarating as the excellent sleevenotes and some of which is exhausting. So we like Avocado Baby's minimalist, funny pop. We like The Yummy Fur's corking 'The Optical Meat Dress'. We like the fact that Unseen sound completely pissed. And we really like 'Fucker X' by the extraordinarily endowed Missy X. There is another underused reviewing line which says, 'In a righteous world this album would deserve , but we're going to give it , anyway.' So we will.

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