The whole gig’s here and apart from the disorientating
effect that onstage echo has on my tape recorder, it’s
a pristine sound. Nice clear vocals, deep twangy bass, striking
drumming and flowery, expressive guitar; the Decay hallmarks.
It represents
all periods of their career and the exhumed ‘UK Decay’,
their first (split) single and ‘Black cat’, their
second, sound every bit as exciting as ‘Werewolf’,
their final vinyl.
‘Sexual’,
‘Stagestruck’ and ‘Rising From The Dead’
are all powerful, all glowing, ‘barbarian’ and ‘Barbarians’
taut but prickly, ‘Dresden’ (slightly messy) tempts,
‘Unexpected Guest’ tantalises and ‘Testament’,
my favourite, rouses like nothing on Earth.
The influences
for many of today’s new band are clear enough to see as
Decay virtually single-handedly kept the old passion course
(fostered by pre-CBS Ants) on line and won the audience’s
devotion and blossomed fast.
Sex Gang’s
cassette (re-released after twelve months, and re-mixed) was
their first item ever and includes some very early performances.
Remember they were one of the bands that came in Decay’s
shadow and were helped by that band and like cay each of the
four departments has a recognisable sound which is always a
sing of a band’s quality.
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