Phallus Uber Alles – “Pussy Pawsitive”
So some may ask why I would choose to review some music that is almost two years old to the day.
It’s simple. Because it’s so great.
The band is Phallus Uber alles. Penis Over All. The Dead Kennedy’s, not to be confused with the Greatful Dead, though both are San Francisco bands, have a song called “California Uber Alles,” but I doubt that you’re familiar with either band.
This band’s comprised of women, electro-punk feministas!
And damn!- can these dames play!
They’re from Portland, Maine which you probably don’t realize is actually, a quite vital spot for punk in New England. That and interspecies mating with moose.
Imagine, being an electro-punk feminista musician in the wilderness of Maine explaining to lumberjacks with long axe handles how, you approve of their dexterity, but choose those who have far more supple muscles.
Which, coincidently, occurs daily in my day to day life, actually.
“Look, you lumberjacks look really great,” I tell them, “But I prefer those with more supple muscles myself.”
This is what I try to relay.
But what good does it do? They never listen, they just use their long axe handles and proceed to chop away.
But as we hear them chop wood in the background, let’s listen to what Phallus Uber Alles has to play.
Whataya say?
“La Femme Terrible” starts with some grindcore, industrial noise and a galloping guitar lick that suggests we’ve wandered off the album into a thrash metal disk or perhaps, a modern spaghetti western soundtrack. A sing-song talking vocal with a rapid fire rap delivery sails on until a chorus with a slow, metal guitar lick, by itself, is answered with a shout of “La femme, terri-blah!” “She’s a daughter, she’s a devil, she’s a decline. She’s a bullet and she’s screaming down the barrel of a pistol…She’s a saber and she’s marching into battle.” This is a highly, original song that combines electronic, punk, metal and riot grrl- along with energy, spunk, passion and aggression into one great whole of a perfect song. Amazing, almost leaves me speechless!
“Nur Ein Bisschen,”- “I’ve been bitchin’,” was not going to be included as I thought the electronics were too prominent for what we review. But when someone yells, “1,2,3,4” and then all hell breaks loose. Well, with this much emotion, energy, fury and intensity- I refuse to omit a song this potent and powerful.
Blasting off with an energetic, electronic punk beat, “Show Me Yr Tits,” starts with the lyrics, “Hey, hot stuff, you look fine, come with me, I’ll blow your mind.” The groove continues with two over-lapping lyric lines that sometimes intersect, fueling the exuberant, over-caffeinated, hyperactive grind. There’s a short sax solo that surprises, like a friend rushing up to you, unexpectedly in a crowd. But this song really takes off in the last twenty seconds when each member of the band takes turns in yelling, “Show me your tits!” I’m not sure this song is about female exploitation or sexual harassment, I believe it is, but I have no doubt, I’m sure, I’m pawsitive, that this song is fucking great!
Starting off with a sound sample and some ambient, electronic music- “Diet Riot,” kicks in with a hard, smashing beat and a plaintive vocal answered with a chorus of emotional shouting voices, “It’s a diet riot!” Halfway through the vocal increases in emotion, the music gets louder and a sax starts edging in. The beat reminds me of the eighties band Fine Young Cannibals and the vocals of New York no wave. Another interesting, great tune.
“Beefed Up,” begins with an electronic, generated punk beat and when the emotive vocals bash in they’re backed by a melodic sax line. Visions of X-Ray Spec pop up before my eyes, not a bad sight to see. The verse combines electronic with surf, punk and rock’n’roll. And with a rolling, drum beat the chorus spouts, “Don’t want no chauvinstic man. I don’t know who you think I am?” As per usual, the last twenty seconds are the best part with a short rap about not putting up with a man ending with a triumphant, “Fuck you!” Another unbelievably great, tune.
This band calls itself electro-punk and I, whole heartedly agree with that assessment. And maybe some would say, “Eww, it’s electronic,” and I would tell you that this music is drenched in punk, more punk than you can imagine in your wildest dreams.
Hell- I got a whole thread in the Forum section of this style that includes The Screamers, Devo, Gary Numan and Wall Of Voodoo. All of those bands I hear here in bits and pieces, though, this is a very original band.
Toss that in with a lot of riot grrl spirit and that’s a potent mix. And when I say they make me think of Kathleen Hanna’s Le Tigre and X-Ray Spec at times, that is high praise, indeed.
This is a style that I really wish more bands would get involved with, I’ve never thought that synthesizers or electronics were lame, it just seemed the folks that played them, tended to be that way.
I checked out this band because they were playing on a great bill in Maine, just saw them on another, so they still must be musically active. And they’ve impressed me enough to invite them, soon, to play our Xmas party next December.
And maybe I can aspire them to record some more, or inspire women to pick up synths, as well as guitars and start forming bands.
Or I could continue to write nonsense, that would seem to be my forte.
But praising this band’s music, is nowhere near nonsense. This is one of the best EP’s I’ve reviewed this year, even if I am two years late.
And “La Femme Terrible” and “Show Me Yr Tits” two of the best songs I’ve heard.
And I write this not to enlighten the lumberjacks, they’re off in a pasture by now with the moose, anyway.
And don’t take my word for it, don’t listen to me. But please listen to this band and these great songs.
(Slimedog)
