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| PRESENT INCORRECT THE WEDDING PRESENT Bizarro (RCA LP/Cassette/CD) THE WEDDING Present are decisively one of "our" bands. The most consistent and endurable of all the C86ers, they've proferred no fewer than nine thrill-a-side singles. The Weddoes' weaponry has always been simple but effective: frenetically chopped frets, appendix-arousing basslines and Dave Gedge's cheekily gruff growls being entwined and embraced with pulse-racing tunes and pained picture stories. And they're sticking resolutely to their guns - 'Bizarro' once again sees them in frantic, love-tangled mode. The one difference is that Gedge has exploited the potential power of long-range missiles. Past glories such as 'My Favourite Dress' and 'Anyone Can Make A Mistake' ripped away at the conventional 45 canvas by dragging their climaxes far beyond rational expectation, whiplashing plectrum workouts and both of them. Here, 'Bewitched' and 'Take Me' take that numbing notion even further: the former floats in and rolls languidly beneath Gedge's whispers until shockingly cavernous sheets of noise blast in with invitation. 'Take Me' is similarly blustering, carrying the listener along for anything between eight minutes and half an hour. Time becomes immaterial, invigoration is inevitable. And if the middle break sounds like 'Caroline', well, we always knew they were the thinking indie kids' Status Quo. Only younger, balder and faster. Even more satisfaction is gleaned from the fact that both tracks prove - if evidence was |
necessary - that the paddle from the indie desert island to the majors' luxury liner hasn't infringed upon the Weddoes' integrity. 'Bizarro' is precisely the album they would have made had they been on RCA or Arsehole Records of Altrincham. But then the problems begin; just as David's desperate tales dominate lyrical proceedings, from infidelity to finality and all pessimistic points in between, so much of 'Bizarro' is formulaic. 'Crushed' is stubbornly predictable, all drilling guitars and lurching segments. 'Thanks', for all its intense precision, still seams ahead in familiar one-vision direction. And while 'Granadaland' skates along with Gedge in fully-blown Manilow mood ("You're breaking my heart/I can't bear the thought of us being apart"), it can't dispel sense of lack of adventure or innovation. These aren't minor complaints. Sure, if 'Bizarro' were a debut release we'd be shouting its title from the highest buildings. But it isn't. Time will surely catch up with the Weddoes one day. Could their grappling guitars be grinding themselves into the ground? Can't Gedge just settle down and co-exist happily ever after with his love, and if he can what will he sing about? For today at least, 'Bizarro' will suffice, possessing sufficient bursts of billigerent brawn and inspired incandescence to make it a worthy successor to the erratic brilliance of 'George Best'. But The Wedding Present are merely treading water when they should be walking on it. (6) Simon Williams |
PRESENT INCORRECT
New Musical Express 21 October 1989