Party Dozen – 21 Bum Salute (City Slang) – It is a great trick, are the Australian duo in danger of become almost a one trick pony though? They are kind of repeating the same admittedly glorious formula here most of the time, until they get a little 808 State and all Pacific State on us somewhere towards the end of things (in a very Party Dozen was of course). The two of them make one hell of a righteous noise that isn’t up for debate, we’ve said it many times on these (unquotable unshareable) pages. What is it now? Four albums in? Five? I guess they don’t really care.
“It’s like we just don’t care any more” says Jonathan Boulet “but in the best way”…
“We’re having more fun than we’ve ever had before” says Kirsty Tickle. “this album is kind of putting a middle finger up and waving at someone with a smile at the same time. We’re egging you on to have a good time”
And it does feel like that this time, it feels like f**k art, let’s rock, well the word party does make up half of their name and that album title is a little throw away: “Emerging in 2017 from the warehouses of the Sydney experimental noise-rock scene, Party Dozen arrive at the release of their fifth album…” There you go, fifth album, five albums in and as good as they sound is it kind of sound a little to much like the same again? They are stomping, that sax of skronking, it is right on your toes and right in your face again, it is very much that thing they do again. Have they stripped it down this time? Have they taken it right back?
“On this album we’ve got it down to the absolute best part of the idea for you” says Tickle. “we’ve trimmed the fat”….
They are still excellent of course, it is a glorious noise (don’t quote me on that though, whatever you do don’t quote us), they are having a blast, several blasts, endless blasts with just that threatening weapon that is her sax and his pounding behind it on those drums (and the electronics and the squelch and the parp and the fuzz and that undertone of funk and punky stomp). More vocals this time? sung (or maybe shouted) into the horn and searching for the pick ups and who knows what she’s shouting…
There are no actual lyrics, they are Kirsty Tickle’s wails on 21 Bum Salute, words thrown out there, It’s the act of singing that compels her rather than the lyrics; “It’s whatever comes out in the moment” she says. “My rage and anger and toughness and grunting are a reflection of my female experience. I look people in the eye while I’m shouting down the bell of my sax and I’m proud of it”. It, as someone else said, it also happens to be super fun
“I’ve never had such a good time in the studio,” says Tickle. “This record was the most enjoyable out of any we’ve done.’
They do blend things, the art and the stomp, the drums that horn, the her and the him, the serious business of fun…
“The ideas come when it’s a weird blend of two things that create a perfect balance,” says Boulet of the Party Dozen magic. “Something that sounds fucked up and you can only just hear what’s happening. It’s a real unspoken excitement that happens when we’re both into it. It’s the real reflection of both our creativity.”
“If you want to get on board with us, come” says Tickle, “we’re having a great time” – and that’s really the thing here, they are obviously having a great time, they are a great time, their gigs are a brilliant time (especially if you can catch them in a small back room rather than opening for someone in a big space) and this album, more than their previous great albums, does feel as if it is all about the party, that they maybe don’t want to be taken as seriously as we would like to take them this time. Party Dozen sound like they’re continuing to have a blast, they’re sounding like you’d expect Party Dozen to, this is serious fun, why mess with it? (sw)
Tour dates:
5th November – Ed Castle, Adelaide, SA – AUS
6th November – Brightside, Brisbane, QLD – AUS
7th November – Crowbar, Sydney. NSW – AUS
11th November – The Bridge, Castlemaine, VIC – AUS
13th November – Nightcat, Melbourne, VIC – AUS
14th November – Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool, VIC – AUS
29th November – Shacklewell Arms, London – UK
30th November – Le PopUp, Paris FR
2nd December – Oedipus, Amsterdam NL
3rd December – Monarch, Berlin DE
Previously….
