LP Edition of 500
Despite Matt Krefting’s resistance to all things fruity, there is little doubt that these friendly non-mineral, non-animal products of nature have the capacity to flush positions through our internal trails far better than ‘most anything else. Especially eggs. Still, it is an egg that remains Dave “Mr. E. Candy” Russell’s muse as he fumbles his way through a vocal universe that is collapsing around his French ears. Something like cross between Crocus Behemoth, Little Lulu and Colonel Bruce Hampton, Russell is on fire here. His vocals emerging from fruit-caked lips as though they were pearls shot from the buttocks of an all-seeing vizier. What Russell does exactly is hard to say, but its slow-kid sing-song quality is bizarrely captivating. And the band here is a goddamn all-star Valley ensemble – Tim Sheldon, Andy Crespo, Brett Robinson, Ted Lee, Vanessa Brewster, John Moloney, Jack Callahan, Ian St. George and special guests – Matt Valentine, Jeff Hartford, Conrad Capistran and Lisette Lopez. Recorded over the last couple of years, in various places around Western Mass, it makes a strong case for Egg Eggs as the most discordian combo in this part of the universe. The comparison my brain keeps returning to is the Hampton Grease Band, updated to shine stylishly in a post-noise-rock milieu. It shares the same mix of brilliance, annoyingness and sheer what-the-fuckery as Music to Eat. And that ain’t hay. Nor is it fruit. Hurray! -Byron Coley
