Introducing The Band
What with the recent and suspiciously abrupt demise of the Birds, I've had to rearrange my fave bands list a little. Everyone moves up one; a vacancy is created for a new fave band.
I think my new fave band might be this lot. Here's a video featuring Phoenix Catscratch, from Athens, Greece, performing their hot new hit Ed. Or ED. Sometimes, the song title seems to be written entirely in upper case, so I have no idea if it's Ed as in Edward, or ED as in (say) Electronic Diagnosis.
But then, many things about Phoenix Catscratch are a mystery - not least, what the blimmin' heck they're on:
A bit like X-Mal Deutschland, Malaria and the Sixteens meeting in a bucket of ART, don't you reckon? Klaus Nomi tops the pictorial influence list on the band's MySpace page, and I think you can tell, can't you?
ED (or Ed) is not the band's most accessible song by any means ('You don't say!' I hear you cynically snort). For a possibly easier way in to the world of Phoenix Catscratch, try 'Denim Hunger', the top song on the band's MySpace player. That one actually has a guitar riff, and is dangerously close to yer actual rock 'n' roll.
But I think the factor that will probably make or break Phoenix Catscratch - the element of the band that you'll either love or hate - is the voice of the female singer, Valisia. Her strange drawl almost sounds like an upper-class English accent, as if the band had recruited a Pimms-fuelled Etonian fop to handle the vocal chores. In the end I think the voice will become strangely addictive, although I'm willing to concede this might just be me.
On one thing there can be no argument, however: Valisia's looming mutant quiff (the 'Sideways Eraserhead', I think it's called down at the Vidal Sassoon salon) is a work of art in itself.
As far as I know the band have not played live outside Greece yet, although within Greece they seem to be picking up some decent gigs - they supported S.C.U.M last week. But there's a possibility that they may come to the UK before too long. Velvet Magazine, essentially Greece's equivalent to Artrocker mag in the UK, is currently running a 'vote for your fave band' type competition, and the prize is a London gig under the auspices of Artrocker. Phoenix Catscratch are among the contenders.
In a way, that seems a bit of an odd prize - "Nominate your favourite band and we'll make them leave the country!" - but if it means we get to see Phoenix Catscratch, hey, I'm in. I have registered myself on the Velvet mag site (which means I'm logged in to a website entirely written in a language I can't read) and I've ticked the box for Phoenix Catscratch. If you feel that way inclined, please do likewise, and collectively we'll shamelessly rig the vote express genuine international support for the band.
And I'll see you down the front, dodging the flailing mutant quiff. What more, I ask, could you want?
I think my new fave band might be this lot. Here's a video featuring Phoenix Catscratch, from Athens, Greece, performing their hot new hit Ed. Or ED. Sometimes, the song title seems to be written entirely in upper case, so I have no idea if it's Ed as in Edward, or ED as in (say) Electronic Diagnosis.
But then, many things about Phoenix Catscratch are a mystery - not least, what the blimmin' heck they're on:
Click to viewA bit like X-Mal Deutschland, Malaria and the Sixteens meeting in a bucket of ART, don't you reckon? Klaus Nomi tops the pictorial influence list on the band's MySpace page, and I think you can tell, can't you?
ED (or Ed) is not the band's most accessible song by any means ('You don't say!' I hear you cynically snort). For a possibly easier way in to the world of Phoenix Catscratch, try 'Denim Hunger', the top song on the band's MySpace player. That one actually has a guitar riff, and is dangerously close to yer actual rock 'n' roll.
But I think the factor that will probably make or break Phoenix Catscratch - the element of the band that you'll either love or hate - is the voice of the female singer, Valisia. Her strange drawl almost sounds like an upper-class English accent, as if the band had recruited a Pimms-fuelled Etonian fop to handle the vocal chores. In the end I think the voice will become strangely addictive, although I'm willing to concede this might just be me.
On one thing there can be no argument, however: Valisia's looming mutant quiff (the 'Sideways Eraserhead', I think it's called down at the Vidal Sassoon salon) is a work of art in itself.
As far as I know the band have not played live outside Greece yet, although within Greece they seem to be picking up some decent gigs - they supported S.C.U.M last week. But there's a possibility that they may come to the UK before too long. Velvet Magazine, essentially Greece's equivalent to Artrocker mag in the UK, is currently running a 'vote for your fave band' type competition, and the prize is a London gig under the auspices of Artrocker. Phoenix Catscratch are among the contenders.
In a way, that seems a bit of an odd prize - "Nominate your favourite band and we'll make them leave the country!" - but if it means we get to see Phoenix Catscratch, hey, I'm in. I have registered myself on the Velvet mag site (which means I'm logged in to a website entirely written in a language I can't read) and I've ticked the box for Phoenix Catscratch. If you feel that way inclined, please do likewise, and collectively we'll shamelessly rig the vote express genuine international support for the band.
And I'll see you down the front, dodging the flailing mutant quiff. What more, I ask, could you want?