Reports - "Bill Wyman, Metal Detector" b/w "Attleboro Trailers" 7" (Ride the Snake)
First new reports from Reports in a good long while, and it’s welcome whenever they’re ready to offer more songs. Centered around songwriter and ringleader Martin, they seem to operate at a hobbyist’s pace, rarely leaving the Boston area and reportedly playing with different lineups. Whoever’s backing Martin up on this one has put a fire under his ass; these are the fastest and most catchy songs they’ve released to date. “Bill Wyman” busts along at a breakneck pace, the crap-fi recording offset with reverb in a charming way that would recall the Wedding Present meets Blondie ca. “Dreaming” if neither party had the backing to make the records they did. It’s a great song that overcomes its rendering, one which is more suited to the bashing flipside “Attleboro Trailers,” all understatedly sassy single-minded riffage, the kind that the Fall or the Velvets would rely on. This is a big step forward from their already fantastic Mosquito Nets album, and I hope they continue to surprise. Two for two on records by Ride the Snake; eager for that Dead At 24 album, too. (www.ridethesnakerecords.com)
(Doug Mosurock)
