White Hassle
National Chain
43 mins
(Matador Records)
Upon first listen the band name 'White Hassle' makes perfect sense. It is 'blues influenced wonky white man country music' played by 2 guys Marcellus Hall and Dave Varenka both from Railroad Jerk - with a sound reminiscent of Bob Dylan, the Fall and Hank Williams (indeed they cover his Iím So Lonesome I Could Cry as well as the Everly Brothers Oh What a Feeling and the Ray Charles Tune Leave My Woman Alone). Let Me Drive Your Car opens the cd with what sounds like a drum kit made of kitchen white goods not unlike the sound of Bob Bert and his Pussy Galore days drum kit.
Indeed White Hassle are spawned from the same city as Pussy Galore, a fact worthy of reference if only for the 2 bands same irreverance 2wards sound quality and the different genres they care to take influence from. The opening track Let Me Drive Your Car is one of those modern experience type romance songs that (perhaps in a J.G. Ballard inspired way) requests a womans love and permission to drive her car, which i guess could be seen as one in the same. What i said delivers its punchline over and over again in the form of the chorus ëi don't think you heard what i saidí multiplied by 23 leaving the listener definetly aware of (if nothing else) the songwriters intended message. National Chain shines in some parts and goes a tad cloudy in others, yet all the way through there remains a kind of tongue in cheek celebration of loneliness. Marcellus Hallís dry sense of humour makes the journey a very much enjoyable one to embark upon.
 Related Web Site
Created on Thu, 25 Sep 1997 and last modified on Mon, 20 Oct 1997.
|
