The Mercury Lounge (Venue Partner)
217 E Houston St
212.260.4700
This event has passed.
- When
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Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 (7:30pm)
- Where
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Directions: F, JMZ at Essex and Delancey or F, V at 2nd Ave
- Price
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$12
Times New Viking -10:30
Axemen - 9:30
HOME - 8:30
Cave -7:30
It's surprising that more people don't know of the ley lines that link Manchester, Leamington Spa and Columbus, Ohio. One person who certainly does is Tom Lax, who during the 1990's directed US label Siltbreeze. After a period of retirement, Lax is back in the fray, unable to resist a cassette sent him by a young Ohioan guitar, keyboard and drums trio. The apostrophe-spurning Times New Viking have precociously absorbed the lessons of English post-punk. Obvious points of reference include The Fall circa 1982, The Blue Orchids and Swell Maps, but in characteristically American style these influences are filtered through a prism of pop melodicism which references Pavement and wild cards like Smog and Pussy Galore. Live, they are said to recall the art-damaged hardcore intensity of Harry Pussy. This particular range of influences is apparently in the Ohio water, perhaps as result of decades of industrial decline- in any case TNV pick up all these as though they were simply the most obvious hand of cards to be holding in 2006, and bet heavily on them. One clue to there valuation of classical pop models is the length of their debut, a refreshing half hour, with all bar one track clocking in under three and a half minutes. The disc art also features a facsimile 5"reel of analogue tape, which pretty much explains the mystery of its treacle-thick production. The tracks presented here are originally practice room recordings, which gives the whole thing a kind of cinema verite ambience. The results are frankly intoxicating, like spending too long gassing up your diesel SUV on a hot day. -The Wire
