CLIFMEN
-FRED MILLS / MAGNET MAGAZINE
The High Impedence label seems intent on breaking, if not new ground, at least a few rules-as one might infer from the subtle pun in its moniker. First of all, by releasing the Bo (Motorcaster) Taylor-helmed project Bandway and elevating AC/DC worship to an art form, the label clearly aims to thwart expectations of what a righteous indie is supposed to be about. And secondly, since High Impedence's Clif Mann has such a storied rawk pedigree (Bad Checks, Pipe)-and given that his new project The Clifmen is a pretty much full-on affair touching on everything from Who-styled classic rock to Dead Boys-influenced classic punk-I'd reckon the label has no truce with garden-variety, shitty-sounding indie whining either. Mann's cohorts in crime here include Taylor (with whom he shares guitar and bass duties), Connells vocalist Doug MacMillan (moonlighting and clearly loving it) and Jack-'O-Nuts' Brooks Carter (playing the Keith Moon role). Some of this is so goofy and over the top, like the sonic reduction revver "I'm In Black" and the thrashy, neo-surf number "Matchbox City," you can't help but think that the project's a beer-fueled, one-take afternoon lark. It probably was. But on the evidence of other tunes-the epic, brooding "Call," the bump 'n' grind blooze of "Something Better To Do," the uplifting, almost anthemic "Dreams" -I'd say, here's to beer-fueled, one-take afternoon larks. |
