Search - Ultra Bide :: God Is God Puke Is Puke

If you find yourself bitten by the cross-cultural bug, and wonder what scum-rock from Japan sounds like, Ultra Bide is your big slice of messy cake. Although not as grimy or bluesy as USA counterparts Jon Spencer or Laughing Hyenas, UB splash a much greater assortment of oddball prog-riffs and punk fireworks onto the same canvas. Before the next transition you might hear Husker Du, Can, Minutemen, King Crimson, or the Dead Kennedys meeting at a busy intersection with a busload of metal bands coming up fast with no breaks. This is something you don't encounter everyday; an unrelenting barrage of chops that actually back up the implied threat. The singing is relegated to the background; singer Hide sputters and swears in Pidgin English throughout nihilist rants like "Dude" and "Get High" (sample lyric-"don't worry / you are nothing / get some dope"). While not exactly a brainbox of wit and wisdom, Ultra Bide pass the biggest test with flying colors. They cram a helluva lot of streamlined fury into one album, and the music consistently both surprises and invigorates. For good old American craftsmanship, you can't beat Japan. --John Chandler