ˇForward, Russia! @ Faversham
By Dave Procter
As The Somatics take to the stage, it is noted that not only is Bruce the drummer the closest thing to Animal from the Muppets on drums, but that he looks stylish in a trilby hat. This set is a proper Zeppelin/early Floyd psych wig out, where the word EPIC reigns large and the words 3 minute radio single are frankly stupid. It's soundscapemungmouse and ends with Richard Green in the drumkit and dead. And yet he lives...
Suggestions pre-gig are that Amusement Parks On Fire are "an emo My Bloody Valentine" - by the end of the first song things are more hopeful with more racket along the lines of Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth, but from then on, it really is MBV during the Loveless tour in the early 90s, even as much as having wibbly sampled bits between the songs. Having said that though, the word songs may be a bit of wishful thinking. Promise for sure, but ideas not already committed to media required also.
Watching and listening to ˇForward, Russia! is an experience in itself - the double exclamation mark t shirts are ace, Tom's hair astonishing and everybody seems to be playing in different time signatures and the complete opposite to each other all at the same time. Very confusing children, but luckily Dr Tunes is lurking onstage too and it all makes sense somehow. That's the clever bit and I think "7" is my fave.
