As we’ve complained previously, Record Store Day has strayed so damn far from its original intentions it should be renamed Reissued Records by Heritage Acts On Splattered Vinyl to Put Straight On Ebay Day. It is saved from the indignity of that – only just, mind – by the inclusion of independent and grassroots labels. For example ghe Swansea / Cambridge underground label REPEA*T who have issued a red flexi disc which includes songs from artists from South Wales and East Anglia, from familiar names to the freshest of meat. The EP has a theme – the open and honest heart on the sleeve urging of change for the better on different levels.
SCUM – Priti Patel (Straight To Hell)
Tory bashing is an evergreen sport but SMAS*H’s Ed and Rob have wisely toned it down a bit on their reworking of 1994’s ‘(I want to) Kill Somebody’. That’s not to say they’ll be offering a hand of friendship to the current government any time soon. “It’s not that I want them dead, It’s just that this world would be a better place if they’d never existed” is a humorous sideways swipe at those in charge. We’re nearly twenty years on from the original and it’s a case of the same shit different number – or different names of the political offenders, more like. And indeed lads, I don’t know why you-know-who doesn’t change his surname to Trump either.
Patrick Jones – Windwords / Geiriaugwynt
What a beautiful poem by Patrick Jones about love and communication with ourselves and each other and nature. Contextualised by field recordings adding ambience, this is an atmospheric live reading by the poet and playwright himself.
Jones also wrote the highly acclaimed lyrics for James Dean Bradfield’s top ten album from 2020, ‘Even in Exile’.
Read our interview with Patrick Jones here
Idealistics – Shattered Moonlight
An ambitious recording, chockful of ideas and attitude, this is good. From Cambridge, Idealistics clearly have ambitions of a bigger scope going forward, fond as they are of Manic Street Preachers, and Wolf Alice. Dramatic lyrics with a delivery to match, love the guitars too.
Primitive Soul – Zero
One of God Is In The TV’s Sounds of Wales 2022, Primitive Soul issued a manifesto when they first emerged, something all bands should get on board with in their early days to be honest. With ‘Zero’ the teenagers from Blackwood have delivered three minutes of full on attitude and enviable sass.
Read here about why we tipped them.
facebook.com/PrimitiveSoulBand
You Flexi Thing Vol 9: Flex & Drugs & Rock’n’Roll is available from indie record stores nationwide from April 23 and subsequently from repeatfanzine.bandcamp.com
