Reviews
Artist:The Brainiac 5 Album: Another Time, Another Dimension
Label: Reckless
Tracks: 15
Website: https://brainiac5.bandcamp.com/
Named after a 60s exotic, alien DC comic character, Brainiac 5 have existed in different forms or what they term incarnations since their initial Cornwall period starting in 1976. The fact that Querl Dox, or Braniac 5 is a shape shifter and very long lived has only become more prescient as time has passed, and boy has some time has passed since they started to hone their blend of punk, Psych and textured reggae rhythms. Admittedly they were on hiatus or in the wilderness between 1981 and 2012, but the last nine years have seen a return of the band round a core of original members Charlie Taylor and John Woody Wood, with Bert Biscoe also appearing. Reckless Records, home of the deserving, left field and strange, release this second collection of Brainiac 5 tracks after two significant events during lockdown. The first was a sift through the archive following hearing an early track, the second was the sad passing of band associate, friend and Roach studio owner Martin Griffin which sparked the writing of new material. The archives yielded a surprisingly number of gems, what is pleasing is that while the playing is more confident and assured after 45 years there is an enduring atmosphere and sense of the weird and strange.
"Spring Fever" is edgy garage rock, sounding like a Country Joe and The Fish or Jefferson Airplane 60s bootleg with just a smattering of punk vim. "I Call Your Name" and "Dancing In The Sun" marry that classic early 80s festival reggae lope with raw vocals and some wonderfully choppy guitar. "Jet Fighter" and "Khazi Persona" are alive with lofi Punk energy and drive, even through a some un new wave guitar wig outs. "Tobacco Road" cements the band's 60s garage credentials, their version drips with feeling and the raw spirit of The Monterey Festival, just needs a oil slide and lights show over the free form Velvets middle section. Superb. Through the historic tape hiss, live in Launceston 1980, "Do Ya" jumps through the fug as early Who energy, some interesting guitar and fine vocals hold your attention despite the ambience. "I Feel Good" is pure flailing energy, Steve Hudson's remarkable drums and some surprisingly tight vocal harmonies. "The Warning" is shot through with late 70s Daevid Allen Gong anarchy, a trance like drum pattern carries some 67 Syd Barrett free-form guitar. The whole piece builds into a repetitive Hawkwind groove. Charlie Taylor carries the 80s with the wonderfully trippy "Pain In A Bowl", edgy car noise horns, electronics and a loopy drum pattern that recalls Timmy Thomas' "Why Can't We Live Together" manage to sound like taking drugs with Talking Heads. This track is musically intense utterly unique and a slow build after the guitar band tracks so far. "Sludge" with a menacing guitar sound, recorded in London in 2019, sounds tight funky and decidedly dangerous, it almost makes everything before sound anaemic by comparison.
This is the one to turn up loud till the ornaments jump and dance. I thought I saw the spirit of Lou Reed grinning down through this one. "Never Say Never", recorded in 2020 is Brainiac 5's groovy acoustic side, a stripped back folk blues, still with that funky beat and some sweet vocal harmonies. "Another Time Another Dimension" opens with some glorious brass and a very English Kinks lyric is delivered over some woozy eccentric rock n roll. "Our Devils" carries on that very English whimsy, imagine a chilled Madness bopping over a hazy Braniac 5 blend of skank and gritty rock. 1976 to 2020, they should get a blue plaque and recognition for ploughing their own furrow and delivering vital, energetic and entertaining music. The band themselves want us to hang on and enjoy the ride.
Marc Higgins
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