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London noise rockers Part Chimp are the sort of band you'll find in the dark basement venue of a small town, pulling in a weird crowd
Right then, where am I? I'm in a cave with a disco ball, in Stoke, avoiding an elderly man wearing glasses with what appears to be two-inch thick lenses, who is both blowing up neon balloons and displaying a confused wonky smile when angry drone fanatics stick their steal cap boots through them to ensure they don't stick to their moustaches. Not sure if he's trying to create an extra rhythm section via balloon popping or if he's escaped from somewhere, but, he seems to be enjoying himself all the same. Anyway, more to the point, there are few bands I'd bother driving to Stoke for, but this quartet are one of them - they're different enough to warrant a mini road trip.
Fair play, they've been around almost a decade now and seen a couple of line up changes, but as bassist Tracy Bellaries takes to the stage swigging champagne out of an ice bucket, I'm pretty happy I'm about to see this one. Playing tracks from their third album (on Mogwai's Rock Action label) one element of PC that always shines through is their ability to be fun. Yes, fun! Forget all that pretentious bollocks usually associated with arty-farty noise freaks, these southern monkeys have humour nestling naughtily beneath the music. Whilst strange sneakers cover their feet, knowing grins covers their faces.
Their latest album is called 'Thriller', but this was somewhat an act of accidental genius as the name was chosen long before the King Of Pop died. Point is, they're rad enough to get away with it and if getting to see them play it live means you should spend more time in little towns with the type of men you'd avoid at bustops for fear of getting your ear bent on the art of taxidermy, well, do it.
Like ATP approved noise mongers Indian Jewellery and The Black Angels, Part Chimp are a must-see band if only for the atmospheric confusion; dramatic as fuck whilst still being technically impressive, delivering noise with big riffs and fun hooks.
As new ventures like 'Dirty Sun' and 'Super Moody' confirm, PC are very much a noise band with soul, and that's their selling point. It might be a bit cleaner, more understandable for the average listener and still very accessible to the old skoolers, but this is undoubtedly the messy quartet you know and love. It's just bigger and better.
So even if you don't get it, or you're scared to stick around because there's a serious potential that you'll go deaf in at least one ear, being loud has never been so good in the land of doom. Don't simply get distracted by how fucking health damaging they are, Part Chimp are one of Britain's best noise bands on record and screaming from the stage, and for that, they deserve your full attention. Minus the earplugs.
Tags: part chimp kelly murray candid fever live music review
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