SHRIEKBACK
'LIFE IN THE LOADING BAY'
(MALICIOUS DAMAGE RECORDS)
Formed in 1981 by Barry Andrews (XTC) and Dave Allen ( Gang Of Four) Shriekback amassed a reasonably successful string of hits in the indie music charts before splitting in 1988. They re-formed in 92’ with single ‘The Bastard Sons Of Enoch’ and album ‘Sacred City’ before disappearing from the radar completely for the next 8 years before returning again in 2000 with new album ‘Naked Apes & Pond Life’, and they’ve remained, in one form or another, since then and today ‘Life In The Loading Bay’ becomes their fourth release since their return from exile - and their 12th studio album to date. Always a difficult band to categorize, they’ve borrowed heavily from several genres of music including funk, pop, rock, dub and electronica and have employed a multitude of instruments in the process. Such versatility remains the apparatus they skilfully craft songs from today. Gentle and almost ghostlike ‘In The Dreamlife Of Dogs’ the gospel edged ‘Loving Up The Thing’, hardy rock and roll driven ‘Now I Wanna Go Home’ and even the meandering blues gets a turn on ‘Nowherenothingever’. The variety this album throws up is endless, possibly spiralling into that glorious realm of intelligence considered Avant Garde. There’s a mad kinda magic about all of it, a genuine ability to create such high-browed musical dynamics that, when brought together collectively, is astoundingly majestic. Such artistic nous will always create impressive, forward thinking works of art - and Shriekback bolster that opinion quite superbly right here. With the added harmonising of Wendy Partridge and the violin work of Kat Evans (on Pointless Rivers) Life In The Loading bay is a riot of inspired cleverness with nothing to declare but its voguish genius. Probably not something for the simple-hearted music fan but for those with a yearning for the scholarly then this one is right up your alleyway.
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