专辑简介

by Thom JurekIssued in 1979 by the short-lived Radar imprint under Warner U.K., Soldier-Talk is among the loopiest of the Red Krayola's offerings. Featuring May Thompson and Jesse Chamberlain (on vocal warbling, ear-wounding thin Fender guitar with the treble turned all the way up, and Chamberlain's very jazz-like drumming. While these two pair up on a number of cuts as simply a duo, there are oither players here as well including all of the Chrysalis era, New Picnic Time Pere Ubu, Laura Logic, Dick Cuthell and Christine Thompson. Yeah. These "songs" are engaging, even compelling in places, but seldom together. Thompson's as humorous as a sarcastic academic most of the time here, like he hasn't fully digested all the theory he was still taking in. This is more like Deluze and Guatarri do avant rock than Thomspon's later exercises which are roaring out loud hilarious. That said, there are great moments here and any real fan of the Krayola needs this-such as the postpunk drive, drop, and crash of "Conspirator's Oath," the drifting instrumental washes of "X," with Logic; or the angular off kilter, knife's-edge white boy funk of "Uh, Knowledge Dance," which could have actually been covered by the Pop Group-and Thomspon sounds uncannily like Mark Stewart of same here. There are stoner moments by the Red Krayola, but this one certainly has its moments, and should be snagged by anyone interested in the band, Art & Language, or postpunk's more musically adventurous side.