American bands can fairly knock the albums out and, hot on the heels of “Napalm Death, Tenement have found the time to records and release another inspired bit of musical pilfering going by the name of “The Blind Wink”.
As, always with this band, half the fun is counting the number of times they have appropriated a riff or a sound from another band – the Weezer meets the Maypops college radio friendliness of “Dreaming Out Loud” should have the robbery squad on their tail pronto – but this time there are clear signs of development.
The songs are often chopped short to incorporate diversions in order to serve some sort of bloody minded quirkiness. “Medical Curiosity” provides evidence of that and sidelines political correctness whilst it is at it. As if to further prove that they don’t know what a straight line is, Tenement venture into rifftastic power pop at full power with “Lost Love Star Lust” before manoeuvring themselves into line with Apples in Stereo with “Cage That Keeps You In”.
You can’t argue with their enthusiasm for what they are doing and the sheer inconsistency of their approach actually counts in their favour in these painfully predictable days. So, while this album may not be for everybody, educated musical ears will most certainly not be bored by it.
Also available on vinyl from Cowabunga Records.