Pabulum

Minxus: “Pabulum” (Too Pure)

Joe Whitney on drums, Gavin Pearce on guitar and vocals and the succuba-like She Rocola on vocals and bass add further credibility to the idea that three people is the most you need to create fantabulous rocky tunes. Only trios can stir up the sort of minimalist storm that makes Pabulum a white hot tornado of head-fucking anti-melodies.

Yes, folks. Sounding like the bastard bitch offspring of Polly Harvey and the late great Fire Engines (emergency hip bells ring!) Minxus are not just another flimsy pop product on the disposable music industry conveyor belt.

Check out the opening ‘Silk Purse’ which fades in with up tempo jazzy drum rolls and then proceeds to wander excitingly all over the place like all good Captain Beefheart protégés, though the extemporisation here is well and truly Anglicised and updated. Or peruse, ears wide open, the quirky instrumental grooviness of ‘The Falcon Contract’ and the scorching ‘X Y Zoom’ and find welcome dark and cacophonic relief from the hollow optimism of the New Brit Pop bright sparks and Grunge Conglomerates.

Most of She Rocola’s songs take on board the confrontational body of sexual politics. Hear her simulate orgasm on ‘Fecund Girls’ and deliver a sinister tale of young, careless and misfortunate love on ‘Liberty Bodice (a)’. ‘Vultura’ enumerates various names for the (female) pudenda and then Rocola asks “Where were you when the slits were cut?” (Ouch!) A sly reference to those pioneers of rock feminism The Slits perhaps? ‘Wonderful Pair’ meanwhile (not what you think!) is a caustically cynical account of an anatomically free, happy, loving couple.

The title track ‘Pabulum’ sums up the Minxus project. Elliptical and ambivalent body-images that go close to the physical bones of love are utilised to represent the poignant loss of self and selflessness between men and women when they come together. It’s an enticing, melancholic theme which the innovative music everywhere else on the album reinforces and manages to keep fresh, seductive and enigmatic.

This is a beautifully down and offbeat record full of energy and great music. Pabulum means ‘food for thought’. Minxus give you that and a lot more besides. Go stuff yourself!

• Patrick Brennan