V/A Bipolar Bear/Hiroshima Rock Around split 12”
The band that refuses to let me rest has pulled another split release out of their hip pocket. BpB’s opening tune (“Graves”) has some epic guitar play with soaring progressions that bring Cheap Time to mind, if Cheap Time were going for an A-Frames styled byproduct. Catchy little ditty that perks me interest. After that, it’s a return to their Fall-like dirge that I’ve become used to…stuff isn’t bad though. Still wish they’d hit that Battleship/Circus Lupus stride again. I know, I know. I’m a broken record. “Crabby Levine” does the most for me with its repeat-o-disjoint and reverb drenched take on what seems to be the Grass Roots’ “Live For Today”. Seriously. The drummer’s somewhere else playing at a totally different party. Believe me, all of this works together. Is this 4th track a cover? It’s probably off another one of the billion releases by these guys (It is). “Spider Cop” ends it on the more Lupus hoof I praise, but still swaying in the drunken angular territory. There are a lot of bees buzzing in these crevices. Swarming within the gaps left by the plodding upfront bass. One of the better Bear rekkids I’ve come into contact with. Huzzah.
Hiroshima Rock Around is the noise in the noise-punk on this thing. The opener “Al Denton…” has Albini guitar tones playing some arty Italian loft-core. Dueling vocals wail over collapsing & disjointed riffs. “Not Right” goes berserk with a dance tune buried under fuzz n’ siren guitars, then cuts it all up with drum spasms. Trying to place what it reminds me of… AH Kraken? That’d be a good match up. This train keeps ah rollin’ when “Wild Brushes” lends some horn play to its already No-Wave structure. Sounds very San Francisco from a few years back. Before Dwyer went sunshine pop. Think about his Load years. Kewl tymes. Speaking of No Wave, DNA gets checked on track four. “Disfunzioni Intestinali” sounds like someone’s gonna’ puke on the mic. Then the drum kit falls over and real rock is had. This 12” just gets better and better as it goes! The last 4 songs really hit the nail on the head. HRA starts to show its appreciation of Scratch Acid and Greg Ginn soloing. Wowsa. “Closed Mouth”’s death waltz is caked over in ugly guitar ineptitude and Yow-esque caterwauling. Kinda’ like the Annals grabbing a guitar over keys and then pulling some muscle-y fiercetude. I highly recommend this thing. “Major Labels Can Eat Shit”…you bet. Delay. Noise. Ugly. Hardcore. (RSF)
(Kill Shaman/NO=FI Records co-release // http://www.killshaman.com)

DICEMBRE A CANNONE Mese intenso per numero e qualità di iniziative : partiamo dal 3 DICEMBRE 2009 , data in cui gli HIROSHIMA ROCKS AROUND suoneranno e saranno intervistati nel NUOVA MUZIQUE SHOW , trasmissione radiofonica su FUSORADIO.NET pr…