Shriekback - Life in the Loading Bay

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 16 / 1 / 2011

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Review

'Life in the Loading Bay' is Shriekback's twelfth album since 1981, although I must admit that I wasn't even aware Shriekback were still around. Best known for their lean white boy funk back then, their new album is well produced and safely shuffles amongst places already denounced as long extinguished. As predictable as a Radio6 show it goes on for 45 minutes. It's a torrent of clichés and cinematic sounds over bubbling traffic jam rock beats. I suppose there might be someone in California who might think this constitutes really cool British import music to play in their hummer car. Listen to how that bass sounds, man! There are no memorable melody lines, just a flat excursion occasionally highlighted by the piano. Do not count on more. Some tracks sound like covers but apparently they're not Dr John or George Michael songs. On this album Shriekback rip off at least half a dozen of their own ideas. But if you like your music not to disturb you and entertain you whenever you get stuck in traffic, this could be your lucky pick. 'Life in the Loading Bay' offers absolutely nothing unless you're on drugs, or worse. Shriekback had a couple of decent tunes origianlly but they should have left it there. An expensive sleeping pill this.

Track Listing:-

1 In The Dreamlife Of Dogs
2 Semidelicious
3 Loving Up The Thing
4 Another Day Above The Ground
5 Make It Mauve
6 Nowhere Nothing Never
7 Running With The Mothmen
8 Now I Wanna Go Home
9 The Flowers Of Angst
10 Pointless Rivers
11 Simpler Machines

Have a Listen:-