April 2006 / October 2005 / February-April 2005 / November-December 2004 / July 2004 / March-April 2004 / November-December 2003 / June-July 2003 / March-April 2003 / January-February 2003 / December 2002 / November 2002 / August 2002 / May-June 2002 / November 2001 / October 2001 / June-July 2001 / all web exclusives / search

Basingstoke. I can only say it with a sneer bordering on a snarl. A town immortalised in a Robyn Hitchcock song, but with nothing else to save it. Well, The Perishers are determined to change all that and put the place on the map...even if it is there already.
With a strong whiff of Teenage Fanclub and a nodding glance to the Go-Betweens the tone is light and airy, but with a twist of cynicism, as heard on If You Want To Do The People A Favour where the advice is to "kill yourself". I could get to like these guys.
Their nice line in jangle-pop and  hushed vocals isn't hard on the ear, even if it is reminiscent of others. 'Teepee' needs a bit more bite. Clearly the potent-ial is there for better things, and with added sneer they'll be well on their way to greater things, or at least Reading.

Laurence Arnold
October 2005

back