The
Goodtime Collective ("a society of musicians, film makers and visual artists based in Leicester, UK, dedicated to the creation of independent art with serious soul!") is up to no good here at the Relics in the form of a very interesting band called
The Pale Faces. If you like a band heavy on the unique originality, then this is the band for you, they're this tripped out modern garage thing. Upon first spin my reply was, "Wow Garry, that is some GOOD shit, like a fine meal filled with tastes, aromas and textures. Don't know as if I've heard anything like the Pale Faces, but I was thoroughly delighted (or whatever it is a person does to something that takes you on an odd trip)." I asked him to give me his take on the band, "The Pale Faces are a Hardcore, Garage Pop band on acid who take our inspiration from Sixties girl groups and Psychedelia, Bjork and Animal Collective, Arthur Brown and Radiohead, all in equal measure. Formed at the tail end of 2012, we have released two albums and a split EP with Subtitles already, and are currently mixing our third full album - due for release early next year. The band are a 3 piece, consisting of:Janice Raw: Vox, Kaoss Pad, Monotron, Drums; Dannielle Jeffery: Keys, Vox; Garry Greenaway: Bass, Drums, Vox."
I just love it when a band leaves me in a haze, dazed, just outside my box, my comfort zone crumbled. Ultra talented, taking a host of sounds and experiences, two steps forward, one step back and you get this raw, fuzzed out delicious din. These guys leave me with goosebumps, they're that cool, a modern psychedelic trio and I'm left wondering how they manage to get this sound. Obviously there is a nice mix of live standard instruments and synth like electronics, but they are so seamless. The songs aren't complex in structure but they have a very sophisticated sound. I don't even know what a Kaoss Pad or Monotron are, or what they sound like, but I sure like what this singer is up to, she reminds of Patty Smith a little, able to be a songbird or a militant equally. The band itself are a trip, not like "far out man", trying to regurgitate the past, this is more of a new and fresh trip, lots of influences from at least 3 decades that I recognize, that make a brand new sound. Rare for a full length record, there is not one dud in all these songs, you never feel the need to hit that arrow button to skip to the next song. Here's a couple of my favorites...
"A Girl From The Past"
[audio mp3="http://mustard-relics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/01.Goodtime-Recordings-Girl-From-The-Past.mp3"][/audio]
'A Thing Called Man"
[audio mp3="http://mustard-relics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/07.Goodtime-Recordings-A-Thing-Called-Man.mp3"][/audio]
If there's one downside to these songs, it's that they haven't been given a proper release on a hard copy, but these are the days we live in. Is it even worth it anymore for a band to release vinyl or a CD, although I hope bands like The Pale Faces have something like CDr's at their shows, so a guy can go home and listen to more after the show or just later on. Different times, but these 11 songs songs are very downloadable and therefore take-home-able at the Goodtime Collecvtive
Bandcamp page. If my bullshit babble didn't make any sense up there, don't let that stop you (it's hard as hell to match words with this kind of talent and originality), let it be said that The Pale Faces are well worth your time, lend them an ear. And if you aren't convinced, how's about some vids (good lookin band, if that makes any difference)...
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5HP9hsJ2t8&w=560&h=315]
[vimeo 59059911 w=500 h=281]
The Pale Faces - 'No More Kisses' from Two Headed Snake Productions on Vimeo.
[vimeo 63998481 w=500 h=208]
The Pale Faces - 'Ocean Wide' from Two Headed Snake Productions on Vimeo.
Mustard hasn't been doing much except surviving the winter at this point, in case anyone was wondering. To quote some guys who liked to show their nuts off in camel toe tight jeans, "good times, bad times, no one seems to care." Working on three reviews of three very different yet raging bands that are in the here and now, so I guess expect those over the course of the next several days. My old friend Karin (Ophelia Necro is her DJ name on KDVS) on Facebook posted a link to the second best Cramps footage you'll ever see, the first being their live set at Napa State Mental Hospital. Been meaning to rip the Ohio Demos box set, but I haven't been ripping much lately. In the meantime, on this, the eve of Chinese New Year and coincidentally the Black Moon, in memory of Lux and the beast that was the Cramps...
