Clashing guitar noise with lots of feedback. Sweaty garage punk with melodies you can dance and sing along. A quirky mixture of noise and psychedelia treated with a carefree attitude. Does that sound like your cup of tea? Then perhaps this collection from The Bachelor Pad could satisfy your needs. All Hash and Cock is a compilation coming via Emotional Response records. For the uninitiated, this punk band hails from Strathbungo, Glasgow and was active from the mid 80’s to the early 90’s. During that time period they came out with one full length and a few singles and this record compiles twelve of the best singles that span their entire career.
What you get is the sheer chaos of a fun punk band. I don’t know what it is with pop punkers hailing from the UK, but there seems to be a lively air to their songs that is perfectly represented in this collection. The band mixes their tongue in cheek humor with a relaxed attitude and an anything-goes approach to creating noise. What similarities they share to other UK acts such as the Buzzcocks fade as the psychedelic noise present in these songs is a world apart from their contemporaries. This is a record you put on full volume only to get your ears damaged and say that it’s worth it.
Favorites like the romper “Country Pancake” illustrate the band’s penchant to make love songs and fill them with a heavy dose of volatile guitar sludge — perfect for a school dance and a mosh pit afterparty. “Girl of Your Dreams” has a good mix of noise and gentleness. “Jack and Julian” is a blistering tune filled with acidic textures, glistening organs and a charming sing-along melody.
Among these heavy hitters are also experiments that showcase the band’s genius. “Tumble and Fall” is a slow burn full of swirling distortion that culminates in a combustion of nuclear particles by the end. “The Coroner’s Wife” is what I could describe as noise bluegrass — something I never thought I wanted in my life. The closer “I Want to Hold Your Head” is a mix of both. Endearing and swirling with loud textures. Imagine british-invasion pop with Sonic Youth-level noise and fun that never ceases to end. This record is one hidden gem that you should not miss.
