With no apologies at all for a catastrophically late review, I hereby declare that a BILGE PUMP release is always worth revisiting. Their current 10 inch vinyl EP on Gringo Records is one of a tiny handful of "buy in shops" artefacts since the trio's early days in the mid 90s. There has been just one album since the debut in 2002 and only a scattering of singles and compilation entries along the way. That said, there will be very few shops where you will be able to find this little beauty. Online it is then.
I should say that the best way to enjoy Bilge Pump is to see them in the field. The field in question being The Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, or else a house party, squat, arts space or anarcho-syndicalist European venue of some flavour. They have never been closely focussed on optimised revenue streams or product development but there is not much in the world of musical glee that beats 30 minutes of BILGE PUMP tearing up expectations and baffling logic with one of their dizzying sets.
Emlyn Jones (bass/vocals), Joe O'Sullivan, aka Joe Mask (guitar/vocals) and Neil Turpin (drums) predate nearly all the "core" and "post" genres of these troubled time. There won’t be many post-rock noise bands who open up a first track in three four time. And no bands at all that could cope with Turpin's polyrhythmic genius with such insouciant ease.
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There are mysteries in the lyrics - "moleskin pantaloons?" - that suggest unreasonably optimistic friends with a store of despairing hilarity at the absurdity of the "real world". The songs (with - let it be said - some decent tunes and genuine air-guitar riffs) are rock-solid constructions despite sounding fresh enough to have been improvised in the sessions.
Track listing:
1. Tommy's Out
2.I Trampled On David
3.Tilly's Balls
4.Are You there Jude? It's Me, Barry
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