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Chicks On Speed have often come across as an almost 'anti-everything' band; anti-guitars, anti-major label and anti-the state (to name a few). This approach has promulgated them as a revolutionary band, full of danger, excitement and agitated energy.
Yet their message seems to be over-stated these days, with pop acts also propelling strong feminist sentiments and declarations of personal independence, leaving Chicks On Speed struggling to say something new.

So their latest offering sees a more traditional approach. There are still strong leftist messages, opener The Household Song being an evidently sarcastic praise of the wonders of domestic bliss and the atomic family, whilst the Sonic Youth homage that is Class War needs no explanation. For this album they're also joined by a close group of collaborators; produced by electro-wunder tech, Christian Vogel, they're also accompanied by Spanish outfit the Noheads. The result has given COS a more densely textured series of songs that cover a huge scale of genres, from Parisian skiffle music through to industrial funk in the form of Culture Vultures Part II.

But for all the musical change COS are left with little to say, sounding more like a zeitgeist devotee than renegade cultural force, which leaves 'Press the Spacebar' as an enjoyable, but not inspirational release.

Jonathan Falcone
February-April 2005

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