Now, time for the fourth instalment of Fence Records 'Picket Fence Singles Club' and the turn of Edinburgh based band U.N.P.O.C.
Previously responsible for one of the standout tracks on the 'Fence Sampler #3' : 'Amsterdam' ( the other track of note being an early version of James Yorkston's 'The Lang Toun'! ) They are said to be very shy when it comes to playing live.
Now seeing as the sampler mentioned came out in 2000 and
there's been nothing imbetween it would appear that they are shy of playing full stop.! But hey,we'll forgive them their dilatory indulgences and just be thankful that they've bothered to reappear at all! Especially when they return in such graceful fashion as they do with their contribution to the PF series: 'The Artist Paints'.
They start the ball rolling with the stark and melancholic strains of 'They Were For Leading'; a regimented and angst filled lament that pretty much sets the tone for what's to come. Like some of the other songs here, it's put down to a click track of which no attempt is made to disguise, giving it the same honest, unassuming and underplayed sound that runs right through anything Fence. It's there again on the acoustic guitar folktronica strumalong of second track 'Surface Noises' which is similar to Yorkston and early Mercury Rev for its laid bare vocals and tambourines serving to
enhance the low down, home made vibe. More strumming and folksy singalong comes on 'Better Man' that has a 'Their Satanic Majesties' Stones feel to it and a gratifying humalong section too.
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From here we pass through the lone lo-fi electric guitar and chanted voices of 'Your Records and Your Beautiful Home' with it's falsetto Beach Boys/ Hollies chorus; both haunting and beautiful. 'When the world is Dark and Cold' is The Jesus and Mary Chain at Christmas bathed in reverb and filled with sadness. It's endearing stuff.
Title track 'The Artist Paints' is another Stonesy acoustic jam, stripped down bare and all the more appealing for it. 'January' is more the Velvet Underground, soaked in reverb and some rueful cowboy whistling. They finish with the New Order/Talking Heads electro beats of 'Easy Words Of Wisdom' and there we have it, 30 minutes of musical charm. Now that wasn't too bad, was
it fellas?
Can we expect anything more in the forseeable future from the
taciturn Tom Bauchop and his band? I'm glad to say that we can as U.N.P.O.C will release their debut album 'Fifth Column' on Fence later in the year. Until then,we'll have to make do with this.......no need to rush ...just take your time......
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