We all need ALTERNATIVE OCCUPATIONS
To make a mark on 2016 takes a remarkable artist, release, collective or action. 'Alternative Occupations' is an Extended Play vinyl released on the Cool Thing Record label which encompasses all of these things between four great tracks on twelve inches of throbbing pleasure. Every tune is a freaking corker.
(1) Asylums - 'Alternative Occupations', (2) Petty Phase - 'You'll Be Dead', (3) 'The Horse Heads' – Castles, (4) Bait - 'I'm Still Here'
Musically credible and firing on all cylinders of furious intent, Alternative Occupatioins puts the SEX in EsSEX. Ridiculously Recommended and available from https://asylums.tmstor.es/
Across the land, collectives of collectives are co-collaborating and co-promoting. DIY is a major (in it's literal, non corporate sense) inspiration for imagination. True independence is holding the aces, artist wise. Making good of the Cool Thing promise to support, promote and recommend artists, musical and otherwise, 'Alternative Occupations' rounds off a historic, hysteric year with an audibly positive force of hope and sharing. It is a perfect example of why the industrious, independent new music scenes and anti-scenes are where it is all happening. The label is called Cool Thing. This EP demonstrates why:
BAIT beat-drops dystopia perfectly with this huge sci fi movie soundtrack; 'I'm Still Here' is SUCH an aural rollercoaster ride. It genre clashes 21st century sounds perfectly into what sounds like disco aliens having an orgy at a rocking rave. It's brilliant, hooky, mesmerising and you need to hear it now, and Loudly.
THE HORSE HEADS - Led down a dark alley by the bass line, 'Castles' is a short, sharp shock of relentless guitary great balls of fire that is definitely more in your face than your cheekbones are. These Chelmsford thrill thrashers have enough energy and distortion to start the much needed rebellion.
PETTY PHASE - Sounding like the best kind of vicious vein of vital power, Petty Phase are as NOW as the likes of Clit Rock, Loud Women and so many more. They help make the world an exciting, noisy, fun place on the equality front (especially when a proud pussy grabbing orange neck signals the end of days). Describing themselves as “Sugar, spunk and everything punk.”, the lightning speed, pussy riotious injection of 'You'll Be Dead' would make a brilliant alarm. This is a wake up call.
Petty Phase photographed by Cool Thing posse's acclaimed photographer, Kana Waiwaiku
ASYLUMS. Lead track, 'Alternative Occupations' Punches hard from the first beat. It's a mighty bridge from the band's debut LP, which was released this summer, to whatever they release next. Lyrics of harsh reality give a minor undercurrent to grand rhytms of major escapism. This big TUNE song is a sing-n-jump-along, stadium sized, classic rock beast and guitar licks from outer space. Night stars with day jobs, Asylums, recorded this track during this summer between frantic activity, festival appearances etc. (Considering how much energy they exude on stage, surely the band must need their sleep at some point!?) An instantly infectious antidote to the Brexit summer of hate, 'Alternative Occupations' rocks and rolls for a nation getting through the brutal, argumental struggle of what passes for real life, these days, and helps to make things better.
A diverse but complimentary compilation isn't an easy trick to pull off, but this one has been done brilliantly and should please fans of any one of the artists, that discover the others. Hats off Asylums and friends. A band of the year (2017 included). An album of the year - 'Killer Brain Waves' - and now Cool Thing Records are instigators of 'Alternative Occupations' an alternative musical obsession collection of the year.
2016 ain't all bad.
Above Image from TheZineUK music movement picture story Chapter 12 : End Of Daze
Words; Caffy St Luce - Occupation : Mad Old Bat (Deluxe), Alternative Occupation (for over a decade now) Love Pirate