Underexposed: Gastric Band - Party Feel
- Written by Kenneth McMurtrie
Two plays on words for the price of one - what more could you ask for? Described as purveyors of "spazz jazz" in their promotional material the five-piece from Edinburgh maintain the word-related fun with tune titles that include 'Dustin Binman' and 'Brad Shitt'. This could go either of two ways.
Wordplay aside Gastric Band have a lot to offer going by the strength of the five tracks on this their debut release, particularly for fans of free jazz and other such freakoutery.
Kicking off with 'It's Good But It's Not Right' you soon need to give up trying to spot influences as the tightly played work begins to make itself felt. The aforementioned 'Dustin Binman' follows next and introduces a bit of prog pacing to proceedings before dropping into electronica around the halfway point. Closer 'Under A Glass Table' is though the highlight of the whole piece, ever progressing as it does to an Aphex Twin-like buzzing conclusion.
Bruce Wallace (guitar, synth & loops) divides his time between Gastric Band and Super Adventure Club so that probably explains in part why the band have taken a couple of years to get this mini-album made and released but it would come as no surprise to discover that his compadres also moonlight in other outfits, such is the versatility they bring to the table. Getting to second base on their next effort would appear to be a cinch.
Party Feel is released on June 03 and will be available from amazon (here