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| Melt Banana - London, Garage Monday 27th September 1999 |
Where, oh where do I start? Melt Banana are from Tokyo and don't speak much English. They consist of a female singer, who is quite tall for an oriental. The vocals are very shrill and sharp, and are barked out with great enthusiasm. The bass play is female, and more the size you would expect. Long hair that flails wildly whist jumping up and down. The drummer is a mad-man with a lobotomy hair cut, and frequently jumps high into the air whist playing. The guitarist...well he is completely off his head. He wears a smog mask (like cyclists) and generates the most bizarre sounds from the instrument, all while jumping wildly and swinging the guitar around...literally! Put all this together and it's so hard to describe...so I won't! Ok I'll try...it's equally a visual experience, and sounds like...nothing I've ever heard. The drums and bass hold the whole thing together, while there are sounds coming from the guitar that seem impossible...great screeches and feedback, punctuated by the singing. Put this all together and...it works!
Some of the songs are barely 10 seconds long, and with titles like 'Disposable Weathercock', 'Iguana In Trouble', 'Rough Dogs Have Bumps' and 'Pigeons On My Eyes', you may begin to get the idea...or not!
After every song the singer says a quick "thank you" a'la Liz Fraser, (Cocteau Twins), just in case we were unsure it had finished. One of the highlights must be the cover version of The Beach Boys 'Surfing USA'. Genius!
Stunned is the only word I can use to sum the experience up with. Oh...and a most enjoyable show that makes you smile.
skippy
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