Listening Party: Trash Kit

Trash Kit have been called "chaotic no-wave", Lumidee-meets-Liliput with sick in their hair and described as having the potential of punk and the naturalism of internal folk music. In short, everybody is quite confused.Rhythmically perplexing, vocally wild and with one instrument wrong footing the other, Trash Kit exist in the spaces between 'genres' and established song writing patterns.

Today, Listening Party's heart races in time to their debut album.

Knock Yr Socks
JD: I'm hoping this album will.
EJ: Not much to go on from the first track but I'm excited.

Cadets
EJ: Been listening to this for ages. It's always sounds great live. I like the fact that the vocals are so clean.
JD: Yeah, totally. It's so bright.
EJ: and it builds up perfectly to the screams at the end.
JD: I'm not sure if I like the screaming..
EJ: What? I think that's one of the best things about the band. They don't sound contrived or forced. It's more like a release.

New Face
EJ: I don't remember this one from the live show.
JD: Great chorus.
EJ: and some great contrasts.

50ft Woman
JD: And then it gets kind of doomy. I've never associated Trash Kit with this style of things but it's really dark.
EJ: It shows that they have heavier moments too, yeah. I think the 'trash' style the band use leads people to forget they play their instruments really well.
JD: Yeah, a broken cymbal doesn't disguise that fact.
EJ: This bit is amazing. The way the two vocals work together.
JD: How do they manage to squash 3 different sounding parts into under 2 minutes? I'm confused but I like it.

Pig Cat
EJ: Kind of like this 'Pig Cat' is... haha.
JD: Worst joke ever. This one is mainly vocals.

Tattoo
JD: This is one of the longest tracks on the album. It's nearly 3 minutes.
EJ: It's gentler.
JD: Until the violin comes in. It always makes me laugh how they always think this is out of tune.
EJ: Definitely not here. More please.

Filipino Song
JD: I also like the way TK aren't afraid of keeping their messages strong. Whether they're talking about the otherness of being mixed race, gender politics... whatever.
EJ: Yeah me too.
JD: I read this one is put to a traditional Filipino drumbeat.
EJ: They don't shy away from trying interesting things with the lyrics or their instruments.
JD: I wish more people would give that a go.

Bugsy:
EJ: OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH
JD: OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH

Natascha
JD: Amazing.
EJ: I wasn't sure how the pace of the live show would translate onto record.
JD: Got to remember there weren't really many TK recordings until this.
EJ: It really jumps out.

Sun Spots:
EJ: Another of the tracks I've been listening to for a while. This is the one that people like to dance to.
JD: I think the whole record can be danced to.
EJ: You hear me people?! DANCE.

Gorey:
JD: Trash Kit get spooky on 'Gorey'.
EJ: What else did you expect?
JD: I like the way they get so much passion over by just using Rachel and Rachel's voices.
EJ: Love it when bands use their voices like instruments. Makes for a richer sound. This album definitely pulls it off.

Chinese Boy
EJ: Another mini one.
JD: Not sure I liked that one as much.

Bad Books
EJ: Getting heavy again.
JD: Slo-mo head bang time.
EJ: So upbeat. I think a lot of people will compare them to any riot grrl band ever [or just The Slits] which is a bit silly. I honestly think they do a lot with
this isn't just

Trash Kit!
JD: I've read in a few places that they are a 'ska' band.
EJ: Don't get it. As in really don't get. It might be because of my fear or Ska bands.
JD: ?!
EJ: The only bands that played where I grew up were ska bands. I like TK and thus they aren't Ska.

Fame:
JD: This one sticks out.
EJ: It' the singalong track.
JD: Surely the only time anybody can get near Rachel's vocals.
EJ: Pretty much.

Free Time:
JD: It's just relentless this record.
EJ: I don't think I'd ever just listen to one track of it. Which is a good thing.
JD: I know what you mean. It's so easy to listen to the whole way through.
EJ: All the songs are unmistakably them but also very different.

Wolfman:
JD: and the Trash Kit rollercoaster comes to a halt with Wolfman. It's the rowdiest of the lot.
EJ: Squiggly riff.
JD: OH OH OH OH OH OH .
EJ: I don't think we're getting that across too well.
JD: then there is lots of howling. wolves meet angry dogs in an alley where some people are jamming.
EJ: Guitars VS Wolves.
JD: Guitars win.

The Verdict:

JD:16 songs, only one over 3 minutes. It'll "Knock Yr Socks" off.
EJ: Each song is a tiny surprise. We can't stress this enough. Go and see them live!

Want to know what we're talking about? Buy 'Trash Kit' bu Trash Kit from http://www.upsettherhythm.co.uk/
and see them at these places with more to be confirmed soon

20.02 - Madrid - The Costello Club
29.03 - Paris - Les femmes s'en melent Festival
02.04 - London - The Stag's Head^
07.05 - Minehead - Matt Groening's ATP [OMG]

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