southspecific2020.com - DISC THREE REVIEW

You don’t need me to tell you that 2020 was a lifechanging year. Negatives and positives, confusion and anxiety, fear and loathing. But somehow, hard work determination and a whole lotta Love I think. There was a 40^th anniversary. The gift was to all of us. So Celebrate the Music of Portsmouth. Non specific, No genre, no clique, in 1980 came an LP the cover was amazing, tactile, subversive, unique in its approach, and the vinyl clawing its way out was its Twin. It surged onshore on a wind of discontent, frustration, a sense of “we’ve got something to say” and filled the air of Portsea Island alongside the wailing of the dockyard whistle and the melancholy sobbing of shipping. “South Specific” a masterly compilation of boundary battering local bands gathered together by brainbooster records. The writing sprayed large on the Tricorn concrete. “POMPEY”

But who were these mavericks. The WHO is written elsewhere this is a WHAT. Reviewing the Bands on the original LP from 1980 and the 2 brand new discs on this anniversary celebrating a grand reveal.

So, this is South Specific 2020 the anniversary of what for 1980’s Portsmouth was an historic labour of pride. Both for the City flexing its muscles alongside other “scenes” of this Time. Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield Glasgow Leeds. But the Pompey Bands and Artistes wanted more. Not content to stay localised, loved by a handful of gig goers and mates. There was no Portsmouth sound. The world didn’t see this small City with its Chameleonic music. But time hasn’t faded this movement. This showcases the undeniable diversity, talent and tenacity shared. There were others some good, some not so. Some shone [and some still do] The future, despite the ongoing difficulties we all have to face, is a bright artistic Landscape, New bands rise, some of the torch bearers show their heads and plug in. We have it all, work together, play together.

JIM CRUTTENDEN

SOUTH SPECIFIC 2020 DISC3

Welcome to the 3rd CD another showcase of some of our musical heritage from the 80’s up until today. With a few glimpses of the future positive. The vault door swings silently open. There is a multitude of things inside just waiting to reveal themselves. Take a deep breath, adjust your underwear, and set your Brain to boosted. It’s there clutching for you.

KID SCARAMOUCHE

First up this time are 3 songs from KID SCARAMOUCHE: “Il BORETTO” which is essentially a Mediterranean Squeezebox driven instrumental at a waltzy pace. Exotic, maybe a little bit erotic, sounding more Porto than Portsmouth. More proof, as if any were needed that this shining Solent City is a hotbed of talent and above all, diversity. 2nd is “Langstone Barley” a vastly different Fish entirely. Minimalist electro-throb with weird rapping over it, a touch of The Television Personalities, The Residents but all cooked in a Psychedelic cauldron. Weird scenes inside the houseboat indeed. The 3rd metamorphoses into an acid do-wop electro chug with a bonkers vocal and unhinged lyrics about Chesil Beach, Fossils and a very British day at the Seaside. KID SCARAMOUCHE put the E in eccentric.

RENALDO AND THE LOAF

The above also applies to our heroes RENALDO AND THE LOAF: The 1st tune is difficult to review because it is so unique, so think along these lines. Delta slide Guitar, Folky gruff vocals all sprinkled with magic dust and electronica. It put a big smile on my face, and I had to tether my brain with string. The next would be best described as Syd Barrett helping out Delia Derbyshire, The Radiophonic Workshop and Kraftwerk. See you in the Garden of Earthly Delights. Fabulous.

The 2nd RENALDO AND THE LOAF: “Now Then” is as always with them a superb tripscape. Electronics’ interwoven with Robert Fripp style Guitar and a slow wonderfully hollow sounding percussive beat, across next to and in front behind a the vocals, semi spoken with a slightly mirthful tic. Pink Floyd with Syd, ancient Bowie, and a whole lot of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland tell the tale of “The gnomes” that have moved for health reasons, a hill of wallabies, and other sure evidence of the world running out of puff. Although this review makes it seem ephemeral. It stands in full sunshine as a monolith of Cosmogenic wonder and stroked by a chilly wind.

POPPY-JOY CHERRY-DANIELS

Next, we are served up a delight of strangery from POPPY-JOY CHERRY-DANIELS Structured around a low acoustic skeleton of guitar with a ghostly electronic smoke writhing around it. The Vocalist provides a simple voiced tale about her being alone in a precinct, metaphoric isolation, and creeping anxiety. Cutely terrifying Creepily amusing. Waving at the past.

JJ SUMMER

”Bygone”. Dual vocals Female and Male this song is a beautifully crafted piece of indie melancholy. The echoey guitar is clear and sinuous and the whole sumptuous in any shade of black.

THE STAYAWAKES

Here are Portsmouth’s lords of 21st century new wave power pop. THE STAYAWAKES: This band work hard and know exactly what to do, and how to do it. The Chemists of their craft. Fine, fine live band too. Here we have “Back In ‘95” and “Pink Wave” the former sparkles with its harmonies and tough but fair backing. For any of over 21 years of age {I’m sure there are 1 or 2] It pulls out the phantoms of happy days, along with your aging teeth. Sitting on the Beach with an early love. Timeless pleasure. “Pink Wave” is a punkier affair but still catchier than Chickenpox. If THE STAYAWAKES get any better then, they’ll be Illegalised. Always a pleasure chaps...

ACID ATTACK

More Portsmouth than the Pompey chimes and tombstoning off The Pier. They seem to have been about forever. THE Punk band that lead our “scene” and their semi legendary logo has spread to Jackets and T-Shirts all over this fat but flat Earth. Rooted in Punk but shorn {or is it Shaun?] of the clichés that attach themselves to the way of life and the genre. Their lyrics tell it as it is. People driven to horrific actions by a society that doesn’t care. The world is cracking up, and so are YOU! “Animal Sound” is one of their 80’s classics which sounds as feral now as it ever has. These Spunky young fellahs can play. “Pen Pusher” is a claws out carnivorous beast, Fast, Punky and spitting venom about the “wholesome” society. ACID ATTACK: Scrub Up well but Are at the forefront of Portsmouth’s Musical Heritage.

ATTIC JASON

To delight us next is ATTIC JASON: This track is an up-to-date remix. Metronomic Bass, angrily squalling guitars and a veil of subtle electronics suddenly mutate into a post-punk agit rock creation. The vocals sometimes spoken fearfully and sometimes barking with military precision create a disturbing but splendid few minutes “Entertainment” Play it load next time you meet with your Wirey Gang of 4.

PAUL GROOVY AND THE POP ART EXPERIENCE

It gives me enormous pleasure to review this next band. With an amorphic longevity, an ear for a great/classic tune, a wigged out, commanding live presence, we have PAUL GROOVY AND THE POP ART EXPERIENCE: First we have “Here Come The Freaks” giving off a nostalgic acoustic vibe sweet harmonies and The G-Man on lead vox. A fragrant, smoky achingly sweet cloud of San Francisco 67 Psychedelia The lyrics are a loose collection of reminiscences about “The Freaks” Listen carefully. Mick and Keef are conjured up with the wave of a white denimed arm. Julian Cope capers through. Local Garage Punkers get a mention, and so it continues until a crowd of counter cultural heroes are all around doing “their thing” like a hallucinatory pack of Acid Avengers. This band swirled through the 80’s with their unique manifesto and continue to do so in the nownow.

PAUL GROOVIE AND THE POP ART EXPERIENCE give us another tune: “Take A Look At Yourself” no gentle daydreaming here, this is a mid 60’s influenced Nugget of a blast.

THE MEDIA

Here are THE MEDIA again with another pair of gems from beyond the cathode ray. “Mulberry Lane” is nowhere near “Penny Lane” The other side of the tracks, sweet suburbia with ne’er do wells, lurkers on the shadowy streets. Picture postcard perfection? Ennui, boredom/b’dum b’dum, frustration? High speed Punk skulduggery is afoot. The next song “Mind” brings the Media right up to date. With added Sax and sex this taut Punky boogie’s around the cranium with lyrics probing the terror of mental issues. THE MEDIA have questions, theories and maybe some answers. Welcome back! Still young enough to shake up.

THE GLORIAS

Legends grow, THE GLORIAS are one of the current greats blasting out from the Island. You can’t ignore them a flaming, snarling filthy loud gang of professional Punks. No compromise. If you aren’t on the same page as THE GLORIAS? Go home, lock your door, and stay there. This 1st song “Here Come The Blues” is no Blues, more a call to arms for the “normal” people of the disunited kingdom to say “No, we won’t take it any more” File under: Moral High Ground. The 2nd song from THE GLORIAS: “Gammonati” is another Punk driller killer. Lairey, but Catchy like a “social disease” vocalist Driff howls his rage, about rage, the Other buccaneers board the ship “Good Intent” and shenanigans ensue. Whose side will you be on when it cuts up rough close to where “The Mary Rose” met her end. As the Clash yelled one time: “You’re my guitar hero!” Billy Boy.

KORMORANT

Next is KORMORANT, a graceful diving Seabird that lurk all around our coastline. However, KORMORANT the band seem to stalk through Krautrocks dark forest, scenting the air. Filmic in scope this is an experimental soundscape, stark, and creepy, a Cabaret of Voltaire of shades and things heard from the deep shadows. Very fascinating work.

As we emerge from the forest with Gooseflesh and a cold sweat, we come to the last track of this ambitiously compiled 3 CD set.

PAN ATOMS

The oddly named PAN ATOMS with “Fat Lappers” give us a strange but excellent brew of Franco African dual vocals over a mutated and powerful funk. Twisting across the dry ground like a dust devil. It is restless, and addictive. You can’t put your finger on the map to show where PAN ATOMS exist in the real world. They don’t seem to.

So, this is South Specific 2020 the anniversary of what for 1980’s Portsmouth was an historic labour of pride. Both for the City flexing its muscles alongside other “scenes” of this Time. Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield Glasgow Leeds. But the Pompey Bands and Artistes wanted more. Not content to stay localised, loved by a handful of gig goers and mates. There was no Portsmouth sound. The world didn’t see this small City with its Chameleonic music. But time hasn’t faded this movement. This showcases the undeniable diversity, talent and tenacity shared. There were others some good, some not so. Some shone [and some still do] The future, despite the ongoing difficulties we all have to face, is a bright artistic Landscape, New bands rise, some of the torch bearers show their heads and plug in. We have it all, work together, play together.

JIM CRUTTENDEN