Amps For Christ - The People At Large
by Andrew Carver
published: 3 / 3 / 2004
Label:
5 Rue Christine
Format: CD
intro
Anti-war, anti-multinational business guitar rock on latest offering from the decidely unorthodox Amps for Christ
Amps for Christ are anti-war, anti-multinational business and pro-alternative energy; while none of that is particularly unusual, it must be said the group is mighty weird (one band member is credited “pounding of the flaming fire cube”... I think that means the drums ... er, maybe ...). Leader and guitarist Henry Barnes likes homemade guitars of unusual design, and the pictures of the said instruments will make you ask “what the heck kind of sound do these people make anyway?” '“The People At Large' answers that question in 23 tracks. As one would imagine, it covers a fair amount of territory, but manages to set out its parameters in its first three songs: It starts with the Eastern flavoured 'Tsaress', redolent of groups like the Incredible String Band, then switches gears to the fuzzed out Black-Sabbath-goes-hardcore of 'Use Use Use', then switches gears again to the jaunty, jazzy folk of instrumental 'Old Palm Tree.' Mix to preference. Over the course of the album we also get trad-folk tune 'Prince Charlie Stuart', two versions of 'Auld Lang Syne' (one through a tube amp, one a transistor), some video-game noise, a track entitled 'Banjo Hymn', another one called 'Claremont Raga'. If cracked, anti-establishment electronic folk is your bag, then look no further.
Track Listing:-
1 Tsaress2 Use Use Use
3 Old Palm Tree
4 Prince Charlie Stuart
5 Freddie The Mockingbird
6 Banjo Hymn
7 AFC Tower Song
8 Tarsit
9 Bug
10 Midianite Prelude
11 Old Lang Syne/Tube
12 Branches
13 Evening
14 Gold On Mars
15 Claremont Raga
16 Been To The Rock?
17 Enids Rant
18 The Morlough Shore
19 Flower And Leaves
20 Memmorial Immemorial (Revisited)
21 Tethered Ball
22 Old Lang Syne/Transistor
23 Firecube
most viewed articles
current edition
The Church - Interview with Steve KilbeyIn Dreams Begin Responsibilities - #15- On Being Dignified and Old aka Ten Tips From Jah Wobble On How To Be Happy.
Simon Heavisides - Destiny Stopped Screaming: The Life and Times of Adrian Borland
Secret Shine - Interview
Vetchinsky Settings - Interview
Repomen - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jack Roscoe - Interview
Flaming Stars - Interview
Near Jazz Experience - Interview
Sami Sumner - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Lewis 'Burner' Pugh - Bullets for BreadIan Hunter - Defiance Part 2: Fiction
Kula Shaker - Natural Magick
Inutili - A Love Supreme
Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Back in Time
My Life Story - Loving You is Killing Me
Smalltown Tigers - Crush On You
David Cross Band - Ice Blue Silver Sky
Beyonce - Cowboy Carter
Ty Segall - Three Bells
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart