Review:
'FARMING INCIDENT'
'NINE DEGREES OF TORTURE'
- Label: 'Wrath Records'
- Genre: 'Punk/New Wave'
- Release Date: 'December 2007'- Catalogue No: 'WrathCD046'
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Our Rating:
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Farming Incident are one of the enduring satellites of planet Wrath. Ieuan Jones, Dave Mays, Dave Procter and Geoff Pushkin have been orbiting like wayward asteroids since the end of the last millennium - and here they are audible to the naked ear for only the second time since records began.
On their last visit, we noted their space, and their rock and made a mention of their rough and ready approach to alt culture. This time around there is a hint of smoother surfaces - blasted perhaps by the ravages of time, practice and long contact with the myriad stars of West Yorkshire's popocracy.
I'm not saying they have turned into The Dave Matthews Band or something. Heaven forbid. Naming their album for torture isn't meant to be taken quite that literally I'm sure.
No. FARMING INCIDENT are still the agit-pop outsiders they always were, goading audiences wherever they can be found into frothing rage, seething outrage and bouts of manic laughter and/or stickman dancing. Revisionism is not on offer. Linear logic is equally sparse.
Indeed, the songs and the tunes are like mysterious political slogans blazoned across walls in the broken parts of the City. Punchy, brightly coloured, witty, perplexing, paint still running, grabbing the truth and absurdity in rapid handfuls. "The Terrorist You Seek Is In The Mirror" needs few additional lyrics, but the ones is does get could also be sprayed up while you have the aerosol handy. That one is clear enough.
Other songs are more obtuse. Much more obtuse. "Sadism Fadism" could clearly be about rock and roll ("it's a nasty business") but who is the sadist, and who is fading are not clear at all. "Song For The Plants (Pigos)" is a heavy little surf guitar tune as might be played by a very pissed off Hank Marvin taking revenge against Cliff Richard for crimes against music.
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"Parasite Web of Death" is even more inscrutable. The title is repeated., mantra-like. (this is an enduring and endearing FARMING INCDENT foible: repeat the words you can hear clearly, many times, but mumble the linking threads of meaning so you keep dipping your head deeper in to try to make it clearer). So although the parasitic worm is clearly not well-intentioned, its pyscho-political origins remain unexplained. A bit like life really.
"Owls" is about owls. They are going to get you.
Actually, I didn't really expect this was going to be an easy review to write. It's just that I hadn't reckoned with it being impossible.
Owls have night vision, I know that much. And small rodents need to look to themselves. So metaphorically we might all be at risk.
And I did manage to do a very large basket of ironing while humming happily along to several replays of this radiantly eccentric CD. Its strange madness has clear therapeutic value for anyone with a sour view of contemporary life and dreams of a better one. (like me, and, possibly, you) It would be interesting to see what effect it might have on Jack Straw (another political oddball with Leeds connections and definitely a man who could do with some encouragement in absurdist directions).
As a handy guide, Wrath Reocrds don't do dross, so if you have doubts in this case, give them the benefit. I suspect you will live to regret not a minute.
www.wrathrecords.co.uk
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author: Sam Saunders
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This is a cracking album. I'm really enjoying it. The outstanding tracks for me so far are "Parasite Web Of Death", which is so catchy it's almost a pop song, "The Terrorist You Seek Is In The Mirror", (strangely reminiscent of little-remembered confrontational noise-combo Nerve Rack), "Phobos", "Owls", and "G.O.T.H.", which simmers nicely before boiling over. This album grows on me with each further listen, so in time, I expect the other tracks will come to the fore. I've only recently become aware of Farming Incident, and now realise and how ...shortened comments
------------- Author: blind-fitter
15 January 2008
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FARMING INCIDENT : NINE DEGREES OF TORTURE
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