!!! (Pronounced Chk Chk Chk)’s seventh album has arrived, but is it exciting enough to warrant all exclamation marks?
After over 20 years together, the Sacramento-based Dance Punk band renowned for their energetic stage presence and unique sound run the risk of losing their relevance. This reviewer does not believe this to be the case though. Having formed in 1995 as a mash up of the now defunct Popesmashers and Black Licorice, the two bands decided to mix their disco-funk feel with a more aggressive flavour and bring in Nic Offer (Yah Mos) to create !!!. The band’s name was inspired by the subtitles of the movie The Gods Must Be Crazy, in which the clicking sounds of the Bushmen’s Khoisan language were represented as “!”. But as the band members say themselves, !!! is pronounced by repeating any monosyllabic sound three times. “Chk Chk Chk” is the most common pronunciation. With a well polished live-set and an impressive back catalogue how does their newest addition measure up?
The album opens with one of their key singles, “The One 2”. A pulsing, house/disco beat underpins some high, falsetto vocals and funky guitar. 80’s clubland is dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century and it’s a fantastic opener. It leads seamlessly into “DITBR (interlude)” before frantically leaping into “Dancing Is The Best Revenge”. A bass guitar heavy intro emerges from the odd little interlude to produce a verse which is led by a strong vocal ensemble, but is let down a little but the lyrical content. The chorus and hooks are fantastic however, and really make the song, and hopefully the listener, jump.
The end of “Dancing Is The Best Revenge” bleeds nicely into the next track, “NRGQ”. This theme is heard throughout the album and removing the gap between songs allows a more organic flow to the record. “NRGQ” is a pacy toe-tapper, with more disco-age guitar FX and vocals that would feel comfortably at home in a BeeGees number. This is definitely a track you’d use for an energy boost while commuting, likely bouncing around to the annoyance of fellow passengers. The album thus far is solid. There’s a well-realised mix of spoken word and high-pitched disco vocals reinforced with pounding basslines. These elements are also well contrasted with considered synth and guitar parts.
But not all good things last. “Throw Yourself In The River” follows straight on from the first three blistering numbers and it feels a little FX heavy. It’s the first slower offering and while not unwelcome, it does feel like more of a stumble than a break. “What r u up 2day?” begins with reverberated, computerised vocals and synths making it sound like a strange video game sequence. The bassline doesn’t make up for this overall convoluted and messy song. Play it at the end of a rave night and you’d probably like it though.
Thankfully, “Five Companies” is on hand to break this two song stutter with a very corporate message from the get go. This time, the bassline leads and the song sees a return to the effective disco guitar heard previously. With the addition of some finger clicks it’s back to the funk and rhythm that makes this reviewer (attempt to) dance in his seat.
“Throttle Service” sees the album slow up again and due to the space in between these two tracks, the return to a slower pace feels less stilted. Distorted bass heads up a frenetic mix of guitar, brass and drums whilst the melodic vocals show that years together has really polished up the band’s harmonies.
Despite a couple of weaker songs towards the end of the album, almost alluding to a lack of energy, there are a couple of gems hidden away right before the finish. “Things Get Hard” is a nice and somewhat nostalgic return to the true dance punk roots of the band. Packed with screamy interludes, a rawer bassline, harder vocals (and lyrical content) and more distortion throughout, it’s a real edgy throwback. “R Rated Pictures” is a well suited end to the album. At over five minutes it feels a little experimental, and is probably best tucked away at the end. The lyrical content is tongue-in-cheek as you can probably assume from the title. It’s not particularly in keeping with the rest of the album’s energy or theme, but it’s a good chill out from the pace of the majority of the album.
Overall, !!! have produced a solid album, that belies their years of experience yet remains youthful in its end product. Why not drop into your local Richer Sounds and give the album a whirl?
Author: Steve, Southgate store
