Review of Various Artists's CD "Bilge Pump / Pifco - split single"

Various Artists: Bilge Pump / Pifco - split single

Now this is going to be a noise fest. With these bands you just know it - two of the nastiest, brashest, craziest acts in the city.

Released on the fabulous Run of the Mill records (who've recently worked with such luminaries as That Fucking Tank, Quack Quack and Monster Killed By Laser) both tunes are covers of Jonathan Richman records from his debut album 'The Modern Lovers'.

Richman was the über cool frontman of The Modern Lovers - an American punk band in a similar vein to the New York Dolls and Television (for anyone interested Richman was also bezzy mates with the Velvet Underground and wrote the soundtrack to Something About Mary - I've done my research!).

Anyway, Bilge Pump's two minute surf thrash mash-up is more fun than swimming with dolphins in a giant vat of milk chocolate while Pifco's take on Richman is a spazzed out Mary Chain fuzz punk foot-tap-along that's both haunting and terrifying while simultaneously making you want to pogo around your bed sit.

Both covers are interesting and leftfield plays of the originals in the styles that these two Leeds bands are becoming well known for on the local DIY circuit and beyond.

Go buy it on beautiful plastic vinyl before all the cool kids do.

• www.myspace.com/bilgepump
• www.myspace.com/pifco

Find related articles: new york dolls, jonathan richman, leeds bands, giant vat, bilge pump.