Stolen Recordings : Reviews : Candy

SR-016 Let's Wrestle- In Loving Memory Of...

'In Loving Memory Of...' is album of the week at Pure Groove
16th of feb
www.puregroove.co.uk

'In Loving Memory Of...' number 3 in NME album chart (week of release)

"lets wrestle, motherfucker! if he wants to fight me, bring it on!" So spat Let's Wrestle's frontman WPG about one Johnny Borrell last year.But, in the London urch-rockers' rumble against the mainstream, Borrell is just the first in the ring. This slacker punk trio are itching to elbow-drop anyone wrongly claiming to be indie. 'in loving memory of...' is their first attempt at turning pre-fight trash-talk into a palpable sucker-punch of anti-corporate garage rock. it's the riotous sound of three teenagers making a racket to offend the neighbours, expressing their hormonal fears throughout and trying to score with some girls on the way.

characteristically, lead single, 'i wont lie to you' is so void of production tricks it makes Babyshambles sound like they've had Phil Spector behind the mixing desk. WPG yells in time, if not in tune, like a forlorn Eddie Argos as he confesses 'i wont lie to you/ i cant see if things are getting any better', while bass and crash cymbols rattle along together, tripping up as they go. Its hard not to believe that the adolescent trio formed their band halfway through watching a Dinasaur Jr concert- FACT: they did!- however cringlingly cliched and try-hard that boast may sound. But, then, this is a band that previously released a song called 'i wish i was in husker du'.

But on 'In Loving Memory..' its not a post-punk band but a psychological disorder that gets a name check, as Lets Wrestle get unexpectedly controversial with us. Pica Syndrome casues an appetite for non foods which goes some way to expain the nonsense lyrics of 'song for a man with pica syndrome' " i ate three toothpicks, a goldfish and a childs candle-making kit" states WPG in his by-now-typical nonchalent tone. if it wasnt for the song's shamelss pop sensibilites, complete with-whisper it- Kaiser Chief " Wooahs'" it could well offend. Not that they would care. 'Insects; is th EPs anti ballad, scratching like th bedbugs WPG half sings/half talks about. As the guitars scuffle, the surreal singer strains about ants escaping from his eyes and spiders turning their hairy backs on him, then inevitably regresses to spilling his guts about desiring a girlfriend to dream of.

'Music if my girlfriend' meanwhile is a pure punk rock standout that goes someway to proving just how serious that invatation to johnny borrell was. The track harkens back to a time before other bands realised that pop sells and credibility rarely pays the bills.'music is my girlfriend and i'd do anything for her' barks the chorus and, for all their youthful charm, its hard not to believe what they lets wrestle say.
NME 8/10

'...at the centre of this band beats a heart of pure unadulterated scuzzy art-pop genius kept ticking along by an idealistic,'fuck everything' atttitude to pretty much everything a successful band should be.' -NME

the debut stolen recordings release from let's wrestle is a 6 track mini cd. let's wrestle are the most miserable and hateful band in north london. their songs are written at the back of wpgs garden in his wooden pub. "no matter how many records i buy, i can't fill this void" goes the first line from let's wrestle's 'i won't lie to you', before the track proceeds to collapse around itself with the shimmer of reckless genius. it's shambolic and lasts just two minutes and 42 seconds; leaving you wanting more. think a mixture of pavement, mark e smith at his most literate and late 70's obscure diy 45's. young, exciting and talented as fuck, let's wrestle are another grand addition to the stolen recordings' literate pop realm. limited to just 1000 copies in the usual excellent stolen recordings packaging.rough trade

'...manages to be brilliant, addictive, hopelessly lovely and endlessly fascinating.' -DIS

'Discussion among TO's music team has taken an angry turn of late as we pitch those bands we think should be huge against those who are. For a start, Let's Wrestle do a proverbial do-do on The Wombats' heads but will never shift the same units with their deadpan charm as the Wombats will with wackiness. It's a shame because even fans of Xfm deserve to hear LW's superior indie-scuzz, redolent of The Fire Engines, Pavement and Pete And The Pirates.-Time Out