Parkinsons - Long Way To Nowhere
by Olga Sladeckova
published: 12 / 2 / 2002

Label:
Fierce Panda
Format: CD
intro
"Wildly emotional" seven track mini album and first CD from already controversial punk rock act the Parkinsons, which has been produced by Ben Lurie and Jim Reid, ex-Jesus and Mary Chain and now of Freeheat.
The Portugese-Scottish band, The Parkinsons, only began “bothering” the music scene at the end of last year, but have already started attracting a lot of attention. Their music has literally blown away British and US fans with its wildly emotional punk rock sound, and their habit of stripping themselves naked on stage has gained them much notoriety. Now the band have emerged with their first record, a seven track mini album, ‘A Long Way To Nowhere’, which, released on the London label Fierce Panda records, has been produced by Ben Lurie and Jim Reid (ex-Jesus and Mary Chain, now Freeheat). The first guitar strum on the opening track 'Primitive' seems shy, but then the air is quickly heated up by a fiery sudden storm of sharp guitars and drums, played at a rebelliously fast speed.‘Primitive' has a great density and volume , which drops down only when frontman Alfonso sings: “Oh Baby, it’s a long way to nowhere!” When he sings about the ‘Universe’ on the fourth track, the music becomes deeply gloomy and his vocals moisten with melancholy. The songs controversially jump back and forth from visceral assertivity to drowning desperation, but the band, however, never lose their energy to fight. ‘Bad Girl’, a secret track (Sorry guys I revealed it but I thought it was worth it.), catches attention with its creative use of guitars which drift round the vocals in a clear sound. The sound of ‘Long Way To Nowhere’ is definitely punkish, but it wouldn’t be punk if it only repeated history and the Parkinsons definitely bring something new with them. The whole record is designed to provoke you to keep moving and to get your adrenalin flowing. Do you think you can you keep up?
Track Listing:-
1 Primitive2 Too Many Shut Ups
3 Angel In The Dark
4 Universe
5 Hate Machine
6 Nothing To Lose
7 Scientists
8 Bonus Track
interviews |
Interview (2002) |
![]() |
New punk band the Parkinsons have already become famous for their wild stage antics and gigs which have ended in riots. Vocalist Alfonso Zheimer and guitarist Victor Torpedo talkto Loga Sladeckova about the band's chaotic first eighteen months |
reviews |
Streets Of London Ep (2002) |
![]() |
Raw and assertive latest punk single from the ever popular the Parkinsons |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Liz Mitchell - Interview
Lauren Mayberry - Photoscapes
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
Sukie Smith - Interview
Maarten Schiethart - Vinyl Stories
Clive Langer - Interview
Kim Wilde - Photoscapes
most viewed reviews
current edition
Davey Woodward - Mumbo in the JumboNigel Stonier - Wolf Notes
Wings - Venus and Mars
Only Child - Holy Ghosts
Kate Daisy Grant and Nick Pynn - Songs For The Trees
Neil Campbell - The Turnaround
Philip Jeays - Victoria
Darkness - Dreams On Toast
Suzanne Vega - Flying With Angels
Charles Ellsworth - Cosmic Cannon Fodder
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