A few weeks after this I went to see the Whitlams, and turned up early as Pre_Shrunk were supporting. I was incredibly impressed by the band. That was Friday 13 February 1998, especially by their last song,a ten minute live dance epic called "Accelerate".
I went straight back and bought everything they'd released, at the time only two EPs and loved them. I went to every gig I could get to and have been a fan ever since.
I can't say how much I've been waiting for this album. It was rumoured to be recorded and ready by the start of 2000. It's now the 14th September and doesn't officially come out until tomorrow. However I went along to the pre-release party at Rare Records last Sunday and had the band cook me sausages and sign my CD. I learned a few things, including why gAmer is named as it is and who designed the CD cover.
But onto the album. Fourteen tracks, 50 mins. Of these new tracks, only six existed before the band headed into the studio. This is, in my opinion a very brave move for a band, to write/record 8 new songs while recording a new album. They could have stuck with their old known material, but they weren't happy with it. And for fans who know the band very well, it's fantastic to get so many new songs instead of just recorded versions of stuff we already know so well.
I can't say this often enough. I am, as are most, far more impressed by the band when they see them live. Rarely do people hear their music and enjoy it off the bat. I don't know if this is a direct insult or not but I don't care. See the band live and you will love them forever. The energy they put out for each song, the buzz from the crowd... everyone I've brought to one of there gigs had been hohum about their music but were destroyed when they saw them live.
To see this very unique music played live is something that must be seen. I could see the band playing a grunge festival or a rave and at both going off. How rare is that?
On to the track by track...
Digital Sunrise starts out with a scream. Salvation is a fairly simple song with a crunching riff under a screamed verse. "Technology is our salvation". The chorus (vocaless) reminds me a lot of David Bowie's "Little Wonder", and the warble effect of Dave's base for the melody just blows me away. I've wanted to use this effect for ages! Salvation uses random pauses to great effect and shows the band increasing dance influences.
Ritual makes use of Dave's vocoda and thumps along to a nice building beat, and then, without notice crunches into an old-school Shrunk slap/crunch fest, then straight back into the dance. It's these little moves that make me love this band so much. The middle of the song sees the band trying some harmony building to one of the best little dance jams I've heard for ages.
gAmer is named as a reference to usernames used by on-line gamers. "Mr. crowbar's gonna own you bitch" Harsh riff, harsh lyrics, lots of gun samples, lots of pointed swearing ("you FUCKED UP and now you're dead"). It's the bands first single and can be heard on their official website.
Kite is an old favourite and sees the use of Dave's vocoda again. Very simple chunky, but calm, riff under Dave's robot voice. About the way relationships can become one sided, one person the kite, the other winding in and winding out.
Ring In Sympathy is one of Shrunk's best tracks. Instrumental and very laid back, Dave's riffing over the top of Davage's constant low plunking. Similar to Come To in some ways, but much mellower.
D. Day and Teeth Don't Shine are both fairly old tracks and both have come up very well, the slowed drum loops used in Teeth being a nice surprise. "Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the most fucked up of all? Not me... yet"
Sideways would have a lot to do with the band's (Dave's anyway) obsession with Aphex Twin. It reminded me a lot of Underworld, mainly because of the monotone lyrics and odd use of seamingly inappropriate loops. Actually, on listening now it reminds me more of "Pull the Trigger" by "sonicanimation" but a lot more pumped up.
Crash (aka Sometimes) has caused a lot of controversy with Shrunk fans. It is very different to the version the band has played live for so long and doesn't include some fan's favourite parts. Personally I'm happy with it as my favourite part is still there, the crunchy middle section with a slap or two used as part of the percussion. "Sometimes I wish I was made of rubber".
Frogga Boogaga hasn't really grown on my yet. It's fun, poppy and reminds me a lot of early funk hyped up for the 90s (not 00's). As usually some very nice use of sounds throughout.
What's the Question is a short two min song in the same family as "D.Day" and "All Day Sucker".
The 51st State asks if Australia is becoming the US's 51st State. Acoustic pop on double bass. "Are we the 51st state, they lie manipulate, they have no shame, and they be cheating at the power game". Live the band shout "go Ricky, go Ricky" in the bridge. I think that pretty much sums it up.
Procrastinator is a live favourite and has made some changes over the few years it has been played. Interesting to hear it played on acoustic guitars with effects guitar over the top. The huge solo is preceded by some cute little TV samples ending with "oh my god" and into the huge solo. Guitar solos on a bass guitar must be heard.
The final song on the album Arigato (thankyou and good night in Japanese) is a spoken word story put to music. 'If she's blind I'll give a fat pig to St. Andrew's hospital. I dunno what that means but it kind of made a certain sense at the time' It doesn't stand up well to relistening but it's a nice different ending to the album.
That's it. All I can say is check them out live if you get the chance, they are touring soon. Check out "preshrunk.com" and "preshrunk.net" for tour dates. Album Digital Sunrise out tomorrow (15 September) in Australia.