Brubeck: The Myoclonic Twitch

Brubeck are arguably THE Wellington punk band at the moment, and are certainly at the forefront of possibly the strongest local scene in the country. Although not hugely well known outside the capital, they have a strong and sizeable band of followers that they have earned through a tight live show and high-profile support slots throughout their five year existence (the band’s first ever gig was an enviable opening slot for Fugazi). With all that behind them, their debut full-length album would be an eagerly-awaited platter at any time, but add to the situation one of the longest gestation periods for a local release ever (recordings began back in 1999) and anticipation has reached fever pitch.

So is The Myoclonic Twitch worth this lengthy wait? Oh, yes ma’am. Twenty tracks, which is rare for a NZ release due to the usual budgetary constraints, is one positive outcome of the album formation being extended for so long. Multiple guitar layers and vocal harmonies is another such welcome luxury. The production quality may not quite be on a par with commercial or overseas releases, but Brubeck have gotten maximum effect out of a limited budget.

But what about the fucking songs??? Well, that’s all good news, too. There is a certain similarity across a number of tracks, but then there are some real classy tunes that are among the best this country has ever produced. From the frenetic “Lawn” to the infectious “Skinny” to the standout song in “Rob Clark’s Fishing Secrets”, where syncopated bursts of guitar erupt into a superbly triumphant chorus that showcase the songwriting muscle the band is capable of bringing to bear. Lyrically, Brubeck take on a wide variety of topics, weaving from the metaphorical in “‘Til The Cows Come Home” to the strange (“Two Bettys” appears to refer to Betty Page and Betty Rubble from ‘The Flintstones’) to the humourously stupid (“Scooter”, “The Mau Mau Chicken”). Possibly, the album would seem even stronger if pruned to the best 13 or 14 songs, but with this many tunes for a very economic price, who is dumb enough to complain?

Get this album and see what heights the current punk rock scene in NZ is able to scale. A new high water mark in the genre, and up there with releases by Sommerset and Next In Line as the best of the year.

Matt, Punkas.com, 2001