SERPENTONE
“Spiraling” CD
(serpentone.com)

Have you ever wanted to be Grunge? Like Kurt? Or Courtney? Or any grunge person you know? Maybe your neighbor! Erika und THE ACK fusionieren zu einer trauten Geminschaft, erwecken die schlafende Schlange aus dem Körbchen und betören mit einem minimalistischen Sound, der dich nicht ausknockt, sondern ummantelt und behütet wie die “minivan mom”. Die Töne explodieren nicht wie bei der Sprengung des Reichtagsgebäudes, sondern zittern sich durch die Schlagtürme des Flipperautomats. Der Slingshot schlägt die Tonkugel und erreicht selten ein hohes Tempo, denn Erika hat ihren Joystick fest in der Hand und kontrolliert das Zusammenspiel. “We can play again” und die Zielscheibe versinkt im Spannungsfeld des Chill out Manövers. Der nihilistische Beigeschmack wird durch die destructive Grundstimmung erzeugt: basslastiger Schrammelrock im Romantiklook ungewaschen, verdorben und verspielt, bis der Tilt-Mechanismus ein Freispiel erhindert.

Many bands submit their latest releases for review with the claim that they are ‘gonna be the next big thing’, that they ‘rock more than everyone else’….so on and so on…to be honest, who the fuck are we not to agree? Serpentone, on the other hand, make no such claim…no false promise awaits as I place the CD onto the deck…what I know is that if you like your music played from the heart, no bells or whistles, overproduction or self-indulgent musicianship, then you’ve come to the right place.

Erika Meyer knocks out tune after tune, in her unique vocal style, backed by a ‘Wall of Sound’ grungy attack by the rest of the band….it’s not all loud and aggressive though…there are quiet tender moments too….but gladly, the songs have been so well written that the underlying angst isn’t lost.

This is a great disc, you should check it out!!

Read the review here…

SERPENTONE – Spiraling (self release) – A healthy bit of defiantly classic scratchy 90’s North American home-made punk rock reality waiting for you here – a three piece led by the raw emotion and powerful voice of one Erika Meyer, Serpentone are a powerful Babies In Toyland flavoured angry angsty set of adventures, statements, observations and explorations. Relationships, gender politics, S&M hints, Minivan moms – Erika in on the front cover, bent over her guitar, lost in a frail of hair, the cover photo gives you more than a healthy clue. They’re from Portland Oregon and they damn well sound like it. Raw throated do-not-mess-with-me goodness – some of it is very obvious and maybe even a little naive, that’s kind of good though, that honesty is why this album works and bites and demands your ears so much more than the new Free Kitten album – real pearls that’ll tie you up. Dirty old school sound, raw grunge and riot grrl flavoured bite, the real honest deal, you can’t fake a sound like this, you can’t fake lo-fi raw energy – it either happens naturally or it sounds wrong. Spiraling is a very real, very honest, very direct album, a naked album and no one’s going to put her in a line and tell her what to do, no swallowing sugar coated lies – even when she rather convincingly reaching deep inside and tells us she’s a little crazy and messed up – we love it when things are good. Would you? Serpentone blister, Serpentone bite, the band are good, raw live sound and basic production but the band carry it all – yep, this is basic striped down punk rock and there ready for yer, go grab it – www.serpentone.com

Some Americans from Portland which form the trio “Serpentone”, present to us a half an hour of rough/raw rock with Spiraling. It is characterized by a type of indie-punk-grunge feel that is a bit out of style, yet still has many faithful followers and supporters nostalgic of that sound. The arrangements are quite simple (in “Division” perhaps too much), the instruments are played in a loving way, the totality of it is convincing, and after some listening I found myself singing/humming along to the songs. Erika’s voice at times seems a little unsure and vague, but she has an uncommon quality that caused me to think of a more rational Kat Bjelland, and more capable of controlling her hysterical vocalizations (which however, were present, above all in “Pearls”). The lyrics are characterized by an apparent simplicity that makes them almost seem like nursery rhymes, united sometimes to an unconventional and bitter irony (“Minivan Mom” above all). The whole set is rather varied, with a calibrated alternation of fast, punk-like songs, and then others that are slower and almost stoner-like (the beginning of “Folding”). “Float” certainly deserves mention, a beautiful and poignant ballad, sung with an abandonment and a truly remarkable pathos: gave me the chills. I must admit that this album was not only pleasant to listen to, but also exciting and stimulating: recommended.
- Giancario Mariottini Femme Rock : Realm of Female Vocals Genoa, Italy (translated from the Italian)